Antibody formulations

ABSTRACT

Formulations comprising an anti-IL-13 antibody are provided, including pharmaceutical formulations and methods of using such formulations.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/US2012/062572 having an international filing date of Oct. 30, 2012,which claims the benefit of priority of provisional U.S. Application No.61/553,916 filed Oct. 31, 2011, each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD

Formulations comprising an anti-IL-13 antibody are provided, includingpharmaceutical formulations and methods of using such formulations.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has beensubmitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Oct. 4, 2012, isnamed P4786R1W.txt and is 22,776 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND

The interleukin (IL)-13 is a pleiotropic T helper cell subclass 2 (Th2)cytokine. It has been postulated that IL13 may play a more significantrole than other Th2 cytokines in effector functions associated with thesymptoms of asthma (Corry, Curr. Opin. Immunol., 11: 610 (1999)).Humanized anti-IL-13 antibodies have been described. See, e.g., Intn'lPub. No. 2005/062967. One particular anti-IL13 antibody, lebrikizumab,has been clinically investigated for the treatment of patients withpoorly controlled asthma. Certain of those results have been describedin Co ren et al., N Engl J Med 365(12):1088-98 (2011).

Because proteins, including antibodies, are larger and more complex thantraditional organic and inorganic drugs (e.g., possessing multiplefunctional groups in addition to complex three-dimensional structures),the formulation of such proteins poses special problems. For a proteinto remain biologically active, a formulation must preserve intact theconformational integrity of at least a core sequence of the protein'samino acids while at the same time protecting the protein's multiplefunctional groups from degradation. Degradation pathways for proteinscan involve chemical instability (e.g., any process which involvesmodification of the protein by bond formation or cleavage resulting in anew chemical entity) or physical instability (e.g., changes in thehigher order structure of the protein). Chemical instability can resultfrom deamidation, racemization, hydrolysis, oxidation, beta eliminationor disulfide exchange. Physical instability can result fromdenaturation, aggregation, precipitation or adsorption, for example. Thethree most common protein degradation pathways are protein aggregation,deamidation and oxidation. Cleland et al Critical Reviews in TherapeuticDrug Carrier Systems 10(4): 307-377 (1993).

High concentration (e.g., >100 mg/mL) liquid antibody formulations aredesirable, for example, for routes of therapeutic administration or fortherapeutic applications where small volumes of drug product areadvisable, for example, for subcutaneous injection. High concentrationantibody formulations, however, pose numerous challenges and problems.One problem is instability due to the formation of particulates. Withreconstituted liquid formulations, this problem has been addressedthrough the use of surfactants (e.g., a polysorbate), but surfactantsare sometimes thought unsuitable for liquid formulations, because theyrender further processing difficult. Moreover, surfactants further donot reduce the increased viscosity caused as a result of numerousintermolecular interactions from the macromolecular nature ofantibodies.

Although surfactants have been shown to significantly reduce the degreeof particulate formation of proteins, they do not address the problem ofincreased viscosity that makes difficult the manipulation andadministration of concentrated antibody formulations. Antibodies tend toform viscous solutions at high concentration because of theirmacromolecular nature and potential for intermolecular interactions.Moreover, pharmaceutically acceptable sugars are often used asstabilizers. Such sugars can enhance the intermolecular interactions,thereby increasing the viscosity of the formulation. Highly viscousformulations are difficult to manufacture, draw into a syringe andinject subcutaneously. The use of force in manipulating the viscousformulations leads to excessive frothing, which can lead to denaturationand inactivation of active biologics.

Certain formulations for high concentration antibodies have beendescribed. See, e.g., Intn'l Pub. Nos. 2006/065746 and 2002/30463. Thosepublications do not specifically describe high concentration anti-IL13antibodies.

It would be highly advantageous to have formulations comprising ananti-IL-13 antibody having extended stability and low viscosity at highantibody concentrations. High antibody concentration formulations havingsuch properties would be highly advantageous for certain routes ofadministration, e.g., for subcutaneous administration. The formulationsprovided herein address these needs and provide other useful benefits.

All references cited herein, including patent applications andpublications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety for anypurpose.

SUMMARY

The compositions of the invention are based, at least in part, on thediscovery that anti-IL13 antibody described herein, lebrikizumab, can beformulated at high concentration (>100 mg/mL) in a histidine buffercontaining polyol and surfactant and that such high antibodyconcentration formulation is of low viscosity, has extended physical andchemical stability and maintains potency. Compositions or formulationsof the invention are useful for, e.g., the treatment of asthma and otherlung disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and certainallergic, autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders. In addition, suchformulation can be packaged into subcutaneous administration devices asdescribed herein with maintenance of, for example, product stability andother desirable attributes.

Accordingly, in one aspect, a formulation comprising an anti-IL13antibody is provided. In certain embodiments, the concentration ofantibody in the formulation is at least 100 mg/mL and the viscosity ofthe formulation is less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C. In anotherembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs,CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 7. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises alight chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO.: 9. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavychain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10. In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a light chain having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable region having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 10 and a light chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO.: 14. In one embodiment, the concentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL.In one embodiment, the concentration of antibody is 150 mg/mL.

In another aspect, the formulation comprises histidine acetate buffer,ph 5.4 to 6.0, and the histidine acetate concentration in the buffer isbetween 5 mM and 40 mM. In certain embodiments, the formulationcomprises a polyol and a surfactant and the concentration of the polyolin the formulation is between 100 mM and 200 mM and the concentration ofthe surfactant in the formulation is between 0.01% and 0.1%. In certainembodiments, the polyol is sucrose and the surfactant is polysorbate 20.In certain embodiments, the histidine acetate buffer is pH 5.7 and thehistidine acetate concentration in the buffer is 20 mM, and theconcentration of sucrose in the formulation is 175 mM and theconcentration of polysorbate 20 is 0.03%. In one embodiment, theconcentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL or 150 mg/mL. In one embodiment,the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6.

In yet another aspect, the formulation comprises an anti-IL13 antibodyin a histidine acetate buffer, pH 5.4 to 6.0, and the histidine acetateconcentration in the buffer is between 5 mM and 40 mM and theconcentration of antibody in the formulation is at least 100 mg/mL Incertain embodiments, the formulation further comprises a polyol and asurfactant, and the concentration of the polyol in the formulation isbetween 100 mM and 200 mM and the concentration of the surfactant in theformulation is between 0.01% and 0.1%. In one embodiment, the polyol issucrose and the surfactant is polysorbate 20. In one embodiment, thehistidine acetate buffer is pH 5.7 and the histidine acetateconcentration in the buffer is 20 mM, and wherein the concentration ofsucrose in the formulation is 175 mM and the concentration ofpolysorbate 20 is 0.03%. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and threelight chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13antibody comprises a light chain variable region having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:10. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a light chainhaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable regionhaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 and a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. In one embodiment, the formulation has aviscosity of less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C. In one embodiment,the concentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL. In one embodiment, theconcentration of antibody is 150 mg/mL.

In still another aspect, a formulation comprising an antiIL-13 antibodyhaving extended stability is provided. In certain embodiments, theantibody concentration is at least 100 mg/mL and the viscosity is lessthan 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C. In one embodiment, the antiIL-13antibody is stable for at least one year at 5° C. In one embodiment, theantiIL-13 antibody is stable for at least two years at 5° C. In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody is stable for three years at 5° C. Inone embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody is stable for at least four weeksat 25° C., or at least 8 weeks at 25° C., or at least 12 weeks at 25°C., or for 26 weeks at 4° C. In one embodiment, the formulationcomprises histidine acetate buffer, ph 5.4 to 6.0, and the histidineacetate concentration in the buffer is between 5 mM and 40 mM. In oneembodiment, the formulation further comprises a polyol and a surfactant,and the concentration of the polyol in the formulation is between 100 mMand 200 mM and the concentration of the surfactant in the formulation isbetween 0.01% and 0.1%. In one embodiment, the polyol is sucrose and thesurfactant is polysorbate 20. In one embodiment, the histidine acetatebuffer is pH 5.7 and the histidine acetate concentration in the bufferis 20 mM, and the concentration of sucrose in the formulation is 175 mMand the concentration of polysorbate 20 is 0.03%. In one embodiment, theconcentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL or 150 mg/mL. In one embodiment,the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6.

In yet another aspect, a formulation comprising an anti-IL13 antibodyhaving extended stability in 20 mM histidine acetate buffer, pH 5.7, 175mM sucrose, 0.03% polysorbate 20 is provided. In one embodiment, theconcentration of antibody in the formulation is 125 mg/mL and theviscosity of the formulation is less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C.In one embodiment, the concentration of antibody in the formulation is150 mg/mL and the viscosity of the formulation is less than 15centipoise (cP) at 25° C. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and threelight chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable regionhaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 and a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14.

In still a further aspect, an article of manufacture comprising asubcutaneous administration device is provided. In certain embodiments,the subcutaneous administration device delivers to a patient a flat doseof an anti-IL13 antibody. In one embodiment, the flat dose is 37.5 mg ofanti-IL13 antibody. In one embodiment, the flat dose is 75 mg ofanti-IL13 antibody. In one embodiment, the flat dose is 125 mg ofanti-IL13 antibody. In one embodiment the flat dose is 150 mg ofanti-IL13 antibody. In certain embodiments, the anti-IL13 antibody islebrikizumab. The anti-IL 13 antibody in the subcutaneous administrationdevice is formulated in a buffer and other excipients as described abovesuch that it is provided in a stable pharmaceutical formulation. Incertain embodiments, the subcutaneous administration device is aprefilled syringe comprising a glass barrel, a plunger rod comprising aplunger stopper and a needle. In certain embodiments, the subcutaneousadministration device further comprises a needle shield and optionally aneedle shield device. In certain embodiments, the volume of formulationcontained in the prefilled syringe is 0.3 mL, 1 mL, 1.5 mL, or 2.0 mL.In certain embodiments, the needle is a staked-in needle comprising a3-bevel tip or a 5-bevel tip. In certain embodiments, the needle isbetween 25 gauge (G) and 30G and is between ½ inch long and ⅝ inch long.In one embodiment, the subcutaneous administration device comprises aprefilled 1.0 mL low tungsten borosilicate glass (type I) syringe and astainless steel 5-bevel 27G ½ inch long thin-wall staked-in needle. Incertain embodiments, the subcutaneous administration device comprises arigid needle shield. In certain embodiments, the rigid needle shieldcomprises a rubber formulation having low zinc content. In oneembodiment, the needle shield is rigid and comprises an elastomericcomponent, FM27/0, and rigid polypropylene shield. In certainembodiments, the plunger rod comprises a rubber plunger stopper. Incertain embodiments, the rubber plunger stopper comprises 4023/50 rubberand FluroTec® ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) coating. In certainembodiments, the subcutaneous administration device comprises a needlesafety device. Exemplary needle safety devices include, but are notlimited to, Ultrasafe Passive® Needle Guard X100L (Safety Syringes,Inc.) and Rexam Safe n Sound™ (Rexam).

In yet another aspect, a method of treating asthma in a patient isprovided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises administering tothe patient an effective amount of any of the above formulations. Incertain embodiments, the effective amount is 0.3 mL, one-half mL, one mLor two mL, or about 0.3 mL, about one-half mL, about one mL or about twomL. In another aspect, a method of treating idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis in a patient is provided. In certain embodiments, the methodcomprises administering to the patient an effective amount of any of theabove formulations. In certain embodiments, the effective amount isone-half mL, one mL or two mL, or about one-half mL, about one mL orabout two mL.

In still yet another aspect, methods of administering subcutaneously aformulation comprising and anti-IL13 antibody are provided. Such methodscomprise administering subcutaneously any of the anti-IL13 antibodyformulations described above. In certain embodiments, the methodscomprise a subcutaneous administration device according to any of thedevices described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the rate of anti-IL13 antibody monomer degradation per weekas a function of pH as described in Example 1.

FIG. 2 shows increases in solution turbidity at 350 nm of anti-IL13antibody solutions as a function of pH during storage at 30° C. asdescribed in Example 1.

FIG. 3 shows changes in low molecular weight (LMW) soluble fragments andhigh molecular weight (HMW) aggregates measured by non-reduced CE-SDSduring storage at 30° C. as a function of pH as described in Example 1.

FIG. 4 shows the rates of acidic variants (AV) and basic variant(peak 1) (BV) formation at 30° C. as a function of pH as described inExample 1. Charge variant formation rate is expressed as %/week shown onthe vertical axis.

FIG. 5 shows the rates of basic variant (peak 2) (BV2) formation andmain peak (MP) loss at 30° C. as a function of pH as described inExample 1. Charge variant formation rate is expressed as %/week shown onthe vertical axis.

FIG. 6 shows a rheological characterization of anti-IL13 antibody as afunction of antibody concentration and solution pH as described inExample 1. Solution viscosity is expressed in centipoise (cP) at 25° C.shown on the vertical axis.

FIG. 7 shows a rheological characterization of different monoclonalantibodies over a wide range of concentrations as described inExample 1. Solution viscosity is expressed in centipoise (cP) at 25° C.shown on the vertical axis.

FIG. 8 shows the quantification of visual appearance of anti-IL13 andanti-CD20 antibody solutions as a function of concentration using 90degree nephelometry as described in Example 1.

FIG. 9 shows turbidity measurements (A350) for anti-IL13 and anti-CD20antibody solutions as a function of mAb concentration as described inExample 1.

FIG. 10 shows anti-IL13 antibody solution turbidity as a function ofconcentration and pH as described in Example 1.

FIG. 11 shows subvisible particulate counts in anti-IL13 and anti-CD20antibody solutions as a function of mAb concentration as described inExample 1.

FIG. 12 shows measurements of nephelometric, turbidimetric, and staticlight scattering of 125 mg/ml, solution of anti-IL13 antibody asdescribed in Example 1.

FIG. 13 summarizes the temperature dependence of solution opalescence atdifferent pH conditions for anti-IL13 antibody at 125 mg/mL and at 204mg/mL as described in Example 1.

FIG. 14 summarizes the thermal melting transition peaks observed for twopartially resolved peaks in the capillary DSC as a function anti-IL13formulation composition and solution pH as described in Example 1.

FIG. 15 summarizes the measured osomotic second virial coefficients (B₂)for anti-IL13 antibody as a function of solution pH with samples insimple buffers as indicated and measured from 0.1-1.0 mg/mL as describedin Example 1.

FIG. 16 shows the measured osmotic second virial coefficients foranti-IL13 antibody as a function of formulation composition and pH overthe range of 1.0-10 mg/mL as described in Example 1.

FIG. 17 shows the measured static light scattering intensity vs.concentration for each of the anti-IL13 and anti-CD20 antibodies incomparison to the hard sphere (HS) model as described in Example 1.

FIG. 18 shows static light scattering data for anti-IL13 antibody as afunction of formulation pH represented as apparent molecular weightsobserved at concentrations up to 200 mg/mL as described in Example 1.

FIG. 19 shows the apparent molecular weights of anti-IL13 and anti-CD20antibodies in solution at high concentrations up to 200 mg/mL asdescribed in Example 1.

FIG. 20 shows shear viscosity measured for anti-IL13 and anti-CD20 underrespective formulation conditions at 25° C. as described in Example 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Singleton et al., Dictionary ofMicrobiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York,N.Y. 1994), and March, Advanced Organic Chemistry Reactions, Mechanismsand Structure 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1992), provideone skilled in the art with a general guide to many of the terms used inthe present application.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

For purposes of interpreting this specification, the followingdefinitions will apply and whenever appropriate, terms used in thesingular will also include the plural and vice versa. In the event thatany definition set forth below conflicts with any document incorporatedherein by reference, the definition set forth below shall control.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a protein”or an “antibody” includes a plurality of proteins or antibodies,respectively; reference to “a cell” includes mixtures of cells, and thelike.

The term “pharmaceutical formulation” refers to a preparation which isin such form as to permit the biological activity of the activeingredient to be effective, and which contains no additional componentswhich are unacceptably toxic to a subject to which the formulation wouldbe administered. Such formulations are sterile. “Pharmaceuticallyacceptable” excipients (vehicles, additives) are those which canreasonably be administered to a subject mammal to provide an effectivedose of the active ingredient employed.

A “sterile” formulation is aseptic or free or essentially free from allliving microorganisms and their spores.

A “frozen” formulation is one at a temperature below 0° C. Generally,the frozen formulation is not freeze-dried, nor is it subjected toprior, or subsequent, lyophilization. In certain embodiments, the frozenformulation comprises frozen drug substance for storage (in stainlesssteel tank) or frozen drug product (in final vial configuration).

A “stable” formulation is one in which the protein therein essentiallyretains its physical stability and/or chemical stability and/orbiological activity upon storage. In certain embodiments, theformulation essentially retains its physical and chemical stability, aswell as its biological activity upon storage. The storage period isgenerally selected based on the intended shelf-life of the formulation.

As used herein, a formulation having “extended stability” means one inwhich the protein therein essentially retains its physical stability,chemical stability, and biological activity upon storage at 5° C. forone year or more. In certain embodiments, the storage is at 5° C. fortwo years or more. In certain embodiments, the storage is at 5° C. forup to three years.

A protein “retains its physical stability” in a pharmaceuticalformulation if it shows no signs or very little of aggregation,precipitation and/or denaturation upon visual examination of colorand/or clarity, or as measured by UV light scattering or by sizeexclusion chromatography.

A protein “retains its chemical stability” in a pharmaceuticalformulation, if the chemical stability at a given time is such that theprotein is considered to still retain its biological activity as definedbelow. Chemical stability can be assessed by detecting and quantifyingchemically altered forms of the protein. Chemical alteration may involvesize modification (e.g. clipping) which can be evaluated using sizeexclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE and/or matrix-assisted laserdesorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF MS),for example. Other types of chemical alteration include chargealteration (e.g. occurring as a result of deamidation) which can beevaluated by ion-exchange chromatography or imaged capillary isoelectricfocusing (icIEF), for example.

An antibody “retains its biological activity” in a pharmaceuticalformulation, if the biological activity of the antibody at a given timeis within about 10% (within the errors of the assay) of the biologicalactivity exhibited at the time the pharmaceutical formulation wasprepared as determined in an antigen binding assay or a potency assay,for example.

Herein, “biological activity” of a monoclonal antibody refers to theability of the antibody to bind to antigen. It can further includeantibody binding to antigen and resulting in a measurable biologicalresponse which can be measured in vitro or in vivo. Such activity may beantagonistic or agonistic.

A “deamidated” monoclonal antibody is one in which one or moreasparagine residues thereof has been derivitized, e.g. to an asparticacid or an iso-aspartic acid.

An antibody which is “susceptible to deamidation” is one comprising oneor more residues which has been found to be prone to deamidate.

An antibody which is “susceptible to aggregation” is one which has beenfound to aggregate with other antibody molecule(s), especially uponfreezing and/or agitation.

An antibody which is “susceptible to fragmentation” is one which hasbeen found to be cleaved into two or more fragments, for example at ahinge region thereof.

By “reducing deamidation, aggregation, or fragmentation” is intendedpreventing or decreasing the amount of deamidation, aggregation, orfragmentation relative to the monoclonal antibody formulated at adifferent pH or in a different buffer.

The antibody which is formulated is essentially pure and desirablyessentially homogeneous (e.g., free from contaminating proteins etc).“Essentially pure” antibody means a composition comprising at leastabout 90% by weight of the antibody, based on total weight of thecomposition, or at least about 95% by weight. “Essentially homogeneous”antibody means a composition comprising at least about 99% by weight ofantibody, based on total weight of the composition.

By “isotonic” is meant that the formulation of interest has essentiallythe same osmotic pressure as human blood. Isotonic formulations willgenerally have an osmotic pressure from about 250 to 350 mOsm.Isotonicity can be measured using a vapor pressure or ice-freezing typeosmometer, for example.

As used herein, “buffer” refers to a buffered solution that resistschanges in pH by the action of its acid-base conjugate components.

A “histidine buffer” is a buffer comprising histidine ions. Examples ofhistidine buffers include histidine chloride, histidine acetate,histidine phosphate, histidine sulfate, histidine succinate, etc. In oneembodiment, the histidine buffer is histidine acetate. In oneembodiment, the histidine acetate buffer is prepared by titratingL-histidine (free base, solid) with acetic acid (liquid). In certainembodiments, the histidine buffer or histidine-acetate buffer is betweenpH 4.5 to 6.5. In certain embodiments, the histidine buffer orhistidine-acetate buffer is between pH 5.4 to 6.0. In one embodiment,the buffer has a pH of 5.6. In one embodiment, the buffer has a pH of5.7. In one embodiment, the buffer has a pH of 5.8.

Herein, a “surfactant” refers to a surface-active agent, typically anonionic surfactant. Examples of surfactants herein include polysorbate(for example, polysorbate 20 and, polysorbate 80); poloxamer (e.g.poloxamer 188); Triton; sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); sodium laurelsulfate; sodium octyl glycoside; lauryl-, myristyl-, linoleyl-, orstearyl-sulfobetaine; lauryl-, myristyl-, linoleyl- orstearyl-sarcosine; linoleyl-, myristyl-, or cetyl-betaine;lauroamidopropyl-, cocamidopropyl-, linoleamidopropyl-,myristamidopropyl-, palmidopropyl-, or isostearamidopropyl-betaine (e.g.lauroamidopropyl); myristamidopropyl-, palmidopropyl-, orisostearamidopropyl-dimethylamine; sodium methyl cocoyl-, or disodiummethyl oleyl-taurate; and the MONAQUAT™ series (Mona Industries, Inc.,Paterson, N.J.); polyethyl glycol, polypropyl glycol, and copolymers ofethylene and propylene glycol (e.g. Pluronics, PF68 etc); etc. In oneembodiment, the surfactant is polysorbate 20.

A “preservative” is a compound which can be optionally included in theformulation to essentially reduce bacterial action therein, thusfacilitating the production of a multi-use formulation, for example.Examples of potential preservatives include octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, hexamethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride (amixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides in which the alkylgroups are long-chain compounds), and benzethonium chloride. Other typesof preservatives include aromatic alcohols such as phenol, butyl andbenzyl alcohol, alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl paraben,catechol, resorcinol, cyclohexanol, 3-pentanol, and m-cresol. In oneembodiment, the preservative herein is benzyl alcohol.

A “polyol” is a substance with multiple hydroxyl groups, and includessugars (reducing and nonreducing sugars), sugar alcohols and sugaracids. A polyol may optionally be included in the formulation. Incertain embodiments, polyols herein have a molecular weight which isless than about 600 kD (e.g. in the range from about 120 to about 400kD). A “reducing sugar” is one which contains a hemiacetal group thatcan reduce metal ions or react covalently with lysine and other aminogroups in proteins and a “nonreducing sugar” is one which does not havethese properties of a reducing sugar. Examples of reducing sugars arefructose, mannose, maltose, lactose, arabinose, xylose, ribose,rhamnose, galactose and glucose. Nonreducing sugars include sucrose,trehalose, sorbose, melezitose and raffinose. Mannitol, xylitol,erythritol, threitol, sorbitol and glycerol are examples of sugaralcohols. As to sugar acids, these include L-gluconate and metallicsalts thereof. Where it is desired that the formulation is freeze-thawstable, the polyol is typically one which does not crystallize atfreezing temperatures (e.g. −200 C) such that it destabilizes theantibody in the formulation. In one embodiment, the polyol is anonreducing sugar. In one such embodiment, the nonreducing sugar issucrose.

As used herein, “asthma” refers to a complex disorder characterized byvariable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction (e.g.,by bronchodilator) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness which may or maynot be associated with underlying inflammation. Examples of asthmainclude aspirin sensitive/exacerbated asthma, atopic asthma, severeasthma, mild asthma, moderate to severe asthma, corticosteroid naïveasthma, chronic asthma, corticosteroid resistant asthma, corticosteroidrefractory asthma, newly diagnosed and untreated asthma, asthma due tosmoking, asthma uncontrolled on corticosteroids and other asthmas asmentioned in J Allergy Clin Immunol (2010) 126(5):926-938.

As used herein, “treatment” refers to clinical intervention in anattempt to alter the natural course of the individual or cell beingtreated, and can be performed before or during the conrse of clinicalpathology. Desirable effects of treatment include preventing theoccurrence or recurrence of a disease or a condition or symptom thereof,alleviating a condition or symptom of the disease, diminishing anydirect or indirect pathological consequences of the disease, decreasingthe rate of disease progression, ameliorating or palliating the diseasestate, and achieving remission or improved prognosis.

An “effective amount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages and forperiods of time necessary, to achieve the desired therapeutic orprophylactic result. A “therapeutically effective amount” of atherapeutic agent may vary according to factors such as the diseasestate, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of theantibody to elicit a desired response in the individual. Atherapeutically effective amount is also one in which any toxic ordetrimental effects of the therapeutic agent are outweighed by thetherapeutically beneficial effects.

An “individual,” “subject” or “patient” is a vertebrate. In certainembodiments, the vertebrate is a mammal. Mammals include, but are notlimited to, primates (including human and non-human primates) androdents (e.g., mice and rats). In certain embodiments, a mammal is ahuman.

A “medicament” is an active drug to treat a disease, disorder, and/orcondition.

“Antibodies” (Abs) and “immunoglobulins” (Igs) refer to glycoproteinshaving similar structural characteristics. While antibodies exhibitbinding specificity to a specific antigen, immunoglobulins include bothantibodies and other antibody-like molecules which generally lackantigen specificity. Polypeptides of the latter kind are, for example,produced at low levels by the lymph system and at increased levels bymyelomas.

The terms “antibody” and “immunoglobulin” are used interchangeably inthe broadest sense and include monoclonal antibodies (e.g., full lengthor intact monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, monovalentantibodies, multivalent antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g.,bispecific antibodies so long as they exhibit the desired biologicalactivity) and may also include certain antibody fragments (as describedin greater detail herein). An antibody can be chimeric, human, humanizedand/or affinity matured.

The terms “full length antibody,” “intact antibody” and “whole antibody”are used herein interchangeably to refer to an antibody in itssubstantially intact form, not antibody fragments as defined below. Theterms particularly refer to an antibody with heavy chains that containthe Fe region.

“Antibody fragments” comprise a portion of an intact antibody,preferably comprising the antigen binding region thereof. Examples ofantibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, and Fv fragments;diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules; andmultispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-bindingfragments, called “Fab” fragments, each with a single antigen-bindingsite, and a residual “Fe” fragment, whose name reflects its ability tocrystallize readily. Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab′)₂ fragment thathas two antigen-combining sites and is still capable of cross-linkingantigen.

“Fv” is a minimum antibody fragment which contains a completeantigen-binding site. In one embodiment, a two-chain Fv species consistsof a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight,non-covalent association. Collectively, the six CDRs of an Fv conferantigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a singlevariable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specificfor an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, althoughat a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

The Fab fragment contains the heavy- and light-chain variable domainsand also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the firstconstant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain. Fab′ fragments differ from Fabfragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxy terminus ofthe heavy chain CH1 domain including one or more cysteines from theantibody hinge region. Fab′-SH is the designation herein for Fab′ inwhich the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiolgroup. F(ab′)₂ antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs ofFab′ fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemicalcouplings of antibody fragments are also known.

The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibodyobtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies,i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identicalexcept for possible mutations, e.g., naturally occurring mutations, thatmay be present in minor amounts. Thus, the modifier “monoclonal”indicates the character of the antibody as not being a mixture ofdiscrete antibodies. In certain embodiments, such a monoclonal antibodytypically includes an antibody comprising a polypeptide sequence thatbinds a target, wherein the target-binding polypeptide sequence wasobtained by a process that includes the selection of a single targetbinding polypeptide sequence from a plurality of polypeptide sequences.For example, the selection process can be the selection of a uniqueclone from a plurality of clones, such as a pool of hybridoma clones,phage clones, or recombinant DNA clones. It should be understood that aselected target binding sequence can be further altered, for example, toimprove affinity for the target, to humanize the target bindingsequence, to improve its production in cell culture, to reduce itsimmunogenicity in vivo, to create a multispecific antibody, etc., andthat an antibody comprising the altered target binding sequence is alsoa monoclonal antibody of this invention. In contrast to polyclonalantibody preparations which typically include different antibodiesdirected against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonalantibody of a monoclonal antibody preparation is directed against asingle determinant on an antigen. In addition to their specificity,monoclonal antibody preparations are advantageous in that they aretypically uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins.

The modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody asbeing obtained from a substantially homogeneous population ofantibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of theantibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonalantibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may bemade by a variety of techniques, including, for example, the hybridomamethod (e.g., Kohler et al., Nature, 256: 495 (1975); Harlow et al.,Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,2^(nd) ed. 1988); Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies andT-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981)), recombinant DNAmethods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567), phage display technologies(see, e.g., Clackson et al., Nature, 352: 624-628 (1991); Marks et al.,J. Mol. Biol. 222: 581-597 (1992); Sidhu et al., J. Mol. Biol. 338(2):299-310 (2004); Lee et al., J. Mol. Biol. 340(5): 1073-1093 (2004);Fellouse, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101(34): 12467-12472 (2004); andLee et al., J. Immunol. Methods 284(1-2): 119-132(2004), andtechnologies for producing human or human-like antibodies in animalsthat have parts or all of the human immunoglobulin loci or genesencoding human immunoglobulin sequences (see, e.g., WO98/24893;WO96/34096; WO96/33735; WO91/10741; Jakobovits et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 90: 2551 (1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature 362: 255-258 (1993);Bruggemann et al., Year in Immunol. 7:33 (1993); U.S. Pat. Nos.5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016; Markset al., Bio. Technology 10: 779-783 (1992); Lonberg et al., Nature 368:856-859 (1994); Morrison, Nature 368: 812-813 (1994); Fishwild et al.,Nature Biotechnol. 14: 845-851 (1996); Neuberger, Nature Biotechnol. 14:826 (1996) and Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13: 65-93(1995).

The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include “chimeric”antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain isidentical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodiesderived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibodyclass or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical withor homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived fromanother species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, aswell as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit thedesired biological activity (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6855-9855 (1984)).

“Native antibodies” refer to naturally occurring immunoglobulinmolecules with varying structures. For example, native IgG antibodiesare heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 daltons, composed oftwo identical light chains and two identical heavy chains that aredisulfide-bonded. From N- to C-terminus, each heavy chain has a variableregion (VH), also called a variable heavy domain or a heavy chainvariable domain, followed by three constant domains (CH1, CH2, and CH3).Similarly, from N- to C-terminus, each light chain has a variable region(VL), also called a variable light domain or a light chain variabledomain, followed by a constant light (CL) domain. The light chain of anantibody may be assigned to one of two types, called kappa (κ) andlambda (λ), based on the amino acid sequence of its constant domain.

The term “variable region” or “variable domain” refers to the domain ofan antibody heavy or light chain that is involved in binding theantibody to antigen. The variable domains of the heavy chain and lightchain (VH and VL, respectively) of a native antibody generally havesimilar structures, with each domain comprising four conserved frameworkregions (FRs) and three hypervariable regions (HVRs). (See, e.g., Kindtet al. Kuby Immunology, 6th ed., W.H. Freeman and Co., page 91 (2007).)A single VH or VL domain may be sufficient to confer antigen-bindingspecificity. Furthermore, antibodies that bind a particular antigen maybe isolated using a VH or VL domain from an antibody that binds theantigen to screen a library of complementary VL or VH domains,respectively. See, e.g., Portolano et al., J. Immunol. 150:880-887(1993); Clarkson et al., Nature 352:624-628 (1991).

A “humanized” antibody refers to a chimeric antibody comprising aminoacid residues from non-human HVRs and amino acid residues from humanFRs. In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody will comprisesubstantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains,in which all or substantially all of the HVRs (e.g., CDRs) correspond tothose of a non-human antibody, and all or substantially all of the FRscorrespond to those of a human antibody. A humanized antibody optionallymay comprise at least a portion of an antibody constant region derivedfrom a human antibody. A “humanized form” of an antibody, e.g., anon-human antibody, refers to an antibody that has undergonehumanization.

The term “hypervariable region” or “HVR,” as used herein, refers to eachof the regions of an antibody variable domain which are hypervariable insequence and/or form structurally defined loops (“hypervariable loops”).Generally, native four-chain antibodies comprise six HVRs; three in theVH (H1, H2, H3), and three in the VL (L1, L2, L3). HVRs generallycomprise amino acid residues from the hypervariable loops and/or fromthe “complementarity determining regions” (CDRs), the latter being ofhighest sequence variability and/or involved in antigen recognition.Exemplary hypervariable loops occur at amino acid residues 26-32 (L1),50-52 (L2), 91-96 (L3), 26-32 (H1), 53-55 (H2), and 96-101 (H3).(Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987).) Exemplary CDRs(CDR-L1, CDR-L2, CDR-L3, CDR-H1, CDR-H2, and CDR-H3) occur at amino acidresidues 24-34 of L1, 50-56 of L2, 89-97 of L3, 31-35B of H1, 50-65 ofH2, and 95-102 of H3. (Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins ofImmunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, NationalInstitutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991).) With the exception of CDR1in VH, CDRs generally comprise the amino acid residues that form thehypervariable loops. CDRs also comprise “specificity determiningresidues,” or “SDRs,” which are residues that contact antigen. SDRs arecontained within regions of the CDRs called abbreviated-CDRs, or a-CDRs.Exemplary a-CDRs (a-CDR-L1, a-CDR-L2, a-CDR-L3, a-CDR-H1, a-CDR-H2, anda-CDR-H3) occur at amino acid residues 31-34 of L1, 50-55 of L2, 89-96of L3, 31-35B of H1, 50-58 of H2, and 95-102 of H3. (See Almagro andFransson, Front. Biosci. 13:1619-1633 (2008).) Unless otherwiseindicated, HVR residues and other residues in the variable domain (e.g.,FR residues) are numbered herein according to Kabat et al., supra.

A “human antibody” is one which comprises an amino acid sequencecorresponding to that of an antibody produced by a human and/or has beenmade using any of the techniques for making human antibodies asdisclosed herein. Such techniques include screening human-derivedcombinatorial libraries, such as phage display libraries (see, e.g.,Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222: 581-597 (1991) and Hoogenboom et al.,Nucl. Acids Res., 19: 4133-4137 (1991)); using human myeloma andmouse-human heteromyeloma cell lines for the production of humanmonoclonal antibodies (see, e.g., Kozbor J. Immimol., 133: 3001 (1984);Brodeur et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques andApplications, pp. 55-93 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987); andBoerner et al., J. Immunol., 147: 86 (1991)); and generating monoclonalantibodies in transgenic animals (e.g., mice) that are capable ofproducing a full repertoire of human antibodies in the absence ofendogenous immunoglobulin production (see, e.g., Jakobovits et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 90: 2551 (1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature,362: 255 (1993); Bruggermann et al., Year in Immunol., 7: 33 (1993)).This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanizedantibody comprising antigen-binding residues from a non-human animal.

An “affinity matured” antibody is one with one or more alterations inone or more CDRs thereof which result in an improvement in the affinityof the antibody for antigen, compared to a parent antibody which doesnot possess those alteration(s). In one embodiment, an affinity maturedantibody has nanomolar or even picomolar affinities for the targetantigen. Affinity matured antibodies are produced by procedures known inthe art. Marks et al. Bio/Technology 10:779-783 (1992) describesaffinity maturation by VH and VL domain shuffling. Random mutagenesis ofHVR and/or framework residues is described by: Barbas et al. Proc Nat.Acad. Sci. USA 91:3809-3813 (1994); Schier et al. Gene 169:147-155(1995); Yelton et al. J. Immunol. 155:1994-2004 (1995); Jackson et al.,J. Immunol. 154(7):3310-9 (1995); and Hawkins et al, J. Mol. Biol.226:889-896 (1992).

A “blocking antibody” or an “antagonist antibody” is one which inhibitsor reduces a biological activity of the antigen it binds. Certainblocking antibodies or antagonist antibodies partially or completelyinhibit the biological activity of the antigen.

The “class” of an antibody refers to the type of constant domain orconstant region possessed by its heavy chain. There are five majorclasses of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of thesemay be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2,IgG3, IgG4, IgA1, and IgA2. The heavy chain constant domains thatcorrespond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α, δ,ε, γ, and μ, respectively.

As used herein, “anti-IL13 antibody,” also referred to as lebrikizumab,means a humanized IgG4 antibody that binds human IL13. In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs,CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO.: 1), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO.: 2), and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO.:3). In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three lightchain CDRs, CDR-L1 (SEQ ID NO.: 4), CDR-L2 (SEQ ID NO.: 5), and CDR-L3(SEQ ID NO.: 6). In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprisesthree heavy chain CDRs and three light chain CDRs, CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO.:1), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO.: 2), CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO.: 3), CDR-L1 (SEQ ID NO.:4), CDR-L2 (SEQ ID NO.: 5), and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NO.: 6). In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a variable heavy chainregion, VH, having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs. 7and 8. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a variablelight chain region, VL, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9.In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a variable heavychain region, VH, having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ IDNOs. 7 and 8 and a variable light chain region, VL, having an amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10or SEQ ID NO.: 11 or SEQ ID NO.: 12 or SEQ ID NO.: 13. In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a light chain having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13antibody comprises a heavy chain having an amino acid sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID NO.: 10, SEQ ID NO.: 11, SEQ ID NO.: 12, and SEQ ID NO.: 13and a light chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14.Anti-IL13 antibodies are further described in Intn'l Pub. No.2005/062967.

An “isolated” biological molecule, such as a nucleic acid, polypeptide,or antibody, is one which has been identified and separated and/orrecovered from at least one component of its natural environment.

Reference to “about” a value or parameter herein includes (anddescribes) embodiments that are directed to that value or parameter perse. For example, description referring to “about X” includes descriptionof “X.”

A “subcutaneous administration device” refers to a device which isadapted or designed to administer a drug, for example a therapeuticantibody, or pharmaceutical formulation by the subcutaneous route.Exemplary subcutaneous administration devices include, but are notlimited to, a syringe, including a pre-filled syringe, an injectiondevice, infusion pump, injector pen, needleless device, and patchdelivery system. A subcutaneous administration device administers acertain volume of the pharmaceutical formulation, for example about 1.0mL, about 1.25 mL, about 1.5 mL, about 1.75 mL, or about 2.0 mL.

A “package insert” or “label” is used to refer to instructionscustomarily included in commercial packages of therapeutic products ormedicaments, that contain information about the indications, usage,dosage, administration, contraindications, other therapeutic products tobe combined with the packaged product, and/or warnings concerning theuse of such therapeutic products or medicaments and the like.

A “kit” is any manufacture (e.g., a package or container) comprising atleast one reagent, e.g., a medicament for treatment of asthma or otherlung disorder. In certain embodiments, the manufacture is promoted,distributed, or sold as a unit for performing the methods of the presentinvention.

A “target audience” is a group of people or an institution to whom or towhich a particular medicament is being promoted or intended to bepromoted, as by marketing or advertising, especially for particularuses, treatments, or indications, such as individual patients, patientpopulations, readers of newspapers, medical literature, and magazines,television or internet viewers, radio or internet listeners, physicians,drug companies, etc.

The term “serum sample” refers to any serum sample obtained from anindividual. Methods for obtaining sera from mammals are well known inthe art.

The term “whole blood” refers to any whole blood sample obtained from anindividual. Typically, whole blood contains all of the blood components,e.g., cellular components and plasma. Methods for obtaining whole bloodfrom mammals are well known in the art.

The “amount” or “level” of a biomarker associated with an increasedclinical benefit to a patient suffering from a certain disease ordisorder, or predictive of response to a particular therapeutic agent ortreatment regimen, is a detectable level in a biological sample. Thesecan be measured by methods known to one skilled in the art and alsodisclosed herein. The expression level or amount of biomarker assessedcan be used to determine the response or the predicted response to atreatment or therapeutic agent.

The terms “level of expression” or “expression level” in general areused interchangeably and generally refer to the amount of an amino acidproduct or protein in a biological sample. “Expression” generally refersto the process by which gene-encoded information is converted into thestructures present and operating in the cell. Therefore, as used herein,“expression” of a gene may refer to transcription into a polynucleotide,translation into a protein, or even posttranslational modification ofthe protein.

Asthma and Other Lung Diseases and Certain Allergic, Autoimmune andOther Inflammatory Diseases

Asthma is described as a chronic pulmonary disease that involves airwayinflammation, hyperresponsiveness and obstruction. Physiologically,airway hyperresponsiveness is documented by decreased bronchial airflowafter bronchoprovocation with methacholine or histamine. Other triggersthat provoke airway obstruction include cold air, exercise, viral upperrespiratory infection, cigarette smoke, and respiratory allergens.Bronchial provocation with allergen induces a prompt early phaseimmunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated decrease in bronchial airflow followedin many patients by a late-phase IgE-mediated reaction with a decreasein bronchial airflow for 4-8 hours. The early response is caused byacute release of inflammatory substances, such as histamine, PGD

2

, leukotriene, tryptase and platelet activating factor (PAF), whereasthe late response is caused by de novo synthesized pro-inflammatorycytokines (e.g. TNFα, IL4, IL13) and chemokines (e.g. MCP-1 and MIP-1α)(Busse et al. In: Allergy: Principles and Practice, Ed. Middleston, 1173(1998)). In chronic asthmatic patients, persistent pulmonary symptomsare mediated by the heightened response of Th2 cells. Th2 cytokines arebelieved to play a vital role in the disease (Larche et al., J. AllergyClin. Immunol., 111: 450 (2003)), in particular, IL13 and IL4 producedby Th2 cells with NK phenotype (NKT) in the airway as indicated in amodel of asthma in rodents (Akbari et al., Nature Med., 9: 582 (2003)).The gross pathology of asthmatic airways displays lung hyperinflation,smooth muscle hypertrophy, lamina reticularis thickening, mucosal edema,epithelial cell sloughing, cilia cell disruption, and mucus glandhypersecretion. Microscopically, asthma is characterized by the presenceof increased numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, andplasma cells in the bronchial tissues, bronchial secretions, and mucus.Initially, there is recruitment of leukocytes from the bloodstream tothe airway by activated CD4+ T-lymphocytes. The activated T-lymphocytesalso direct the release of inflammatory mediators from eosinophils, mastcells, and lymphocytes. In addition, the Th2 cells produce IL4, IL5, IL9and IL13. IL4, in conjunction with IL13, signals the switch from IgM toIgE antibodies.

Cross-linking of membrane-bound IgE molecules by allergen causes mastcells to degranulate, releasing histamine, leukotrienes, and othermediators that perpetuate the airway inflammation. IL5 activates therecruitment and activation of eosinophils. The activated mast cells andeosinophils also generate their cytokines that help to perpetuate theinflammation. These repeated cycles of inflammation in the lungs withinjury to the pulmonary tissues followed by repair may produce long-termstructural changes (“remodeling”) of the airway

Moderate asthma is currently treated with a daily inhaledanti-inflammatory-corticosteroid or mast cell inhibitor such as cromolynsodium or nedocromil plus an inhaled beta2-agonist as needed (3-4 timesper day) to relieve breakthrough symptoms or allergen- orexercise-induced asthma. Cromolyn sodium and nedocromil blockbronchospasm and inflammation, but are usually effective only for asthmathat is associated with allergens or exercise and typically, only forjuvenile asthmatics. Inhaled corticosteroids improve inflammation,airways hyperreactivity, and obstruction, and reduce the number of acuteexacerbations. However, it takes at least a month before effects areapparent and up to a year for marked improvement to occur. The mostfrequent side effects are hoarseness and oral fungal infection, i.e.,candidiasis. More serious side effects have been reported, e.g., partialadrenal suppression, growth inhibition, and reduced bone formation, butonly with the use of higher doses. Beclomethasone, triamcinolone, andflunisolide probably have a similar potency; whereas budesonide andfluticasone are more potent and reportedly have fewer systemic sideeffects.

Even patients with mild disease show airway inflammation, includinginfiltration of the mucosa and epithelium with activated T cells, mastcells, and eosinophils. T cells and mast cells release cytokines thatpromote eosinophil growth and maturation and the production of IgEantibodies, and these, in turn, increase microvascular permeability,disrupt the epithelium, and stimulate neural reflexes andmucus-secreting glands. The result is airways hyperreactivity,bronchoconstriction, and hypersecretion, manifested by wheezing,coughing, and dyspnea.

Traditionally, asthma has been treated with oral and inhaledbronchodilators. These agents help the symptoms of asthma, but donothing for the underlying inflammation. Recognition during the lastdecade or of the importance of inflammation in the etiology of asthmahas led to the increased use of corticosteroids, but many patientscontinue to suffer from uncontrolled asthma.

In addition to asthma, other diseases that may be treated by theformulations of inventions include allergy, autoimmune disease, or otherinflammatory diseases. Other allergic diseases include allergicrhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity and urticaria;immune-mediated skin diseases include bullous skin diseases, erythemamultiform and contact dermatitis; autoimmune disease include psoriasis,rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis; inflammatory boweldisease (i.e., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease); other diseasesassociated with IL13 include idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, gobletcell metaplasia, inflammatory and fibrotic lung diseases such as cysticfibrosis, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, and Whipple's disease;immunologic diseases of the lung such as eosinophilic pneumonia,idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis; chronicobstructive pulmonary disease, RSV infection, uvelitis, scleroderma,osteoporosis, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is disorder amenable to treatmentwith the formulations of the invention. IPF is a restrictive lungdisease characterized by progressive interstitial fibrosis of lungparenchyma, affecting approximately 100,000 patients in the UnitedStates (Raghu et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 174:810-816 (2006)).This interstitial fibrosis associated with IPF leads to progressive lossof lung function, resulting in death due to respiratory failure in mostpatients. The median survival from the time of diagnosis is 2-3 years(Raghu et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 183:788-824 (2011)). Theetiology and key molecular and pathophysiological drivers of IPF areunknown. The only treatment shown to prolong survival in IPF patients islung transplantation (Thabut et al., Annals of internal medicine151:767-774 (2009)). Lung transplantation, however, is associated withconsiderable morbidity, not all IPF patients are appropriate candidatesfor it, and there is a relative paucity of suitable donor lungs. Despitenumerous attempts, no drug therapies to date have been shown tosubstantially prolong survival in a randomized, placebo-controlledinterventional trial in IPF patients, although some interventions haveappeared to slow the rate of lung function decline in some patients(Raghu et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 183:788-824 (2011); Richeldi etal., The New England J. of Med. 365:1079-1087 (2011)).

Although the prognosis for all IPF patients is dire, there isconsiderable heterogeneity in disease trajectory (Raghu et al., Am JRespir Crit Care Med 183:788-824 (2011)). Some patients exhibit arelatively indolent course, losing lung function at a relativelyconstant rate over as long as 10 years or more, while others experiencea more rapid decline in lung function, succumbing to death within a yearor two of diagnosis. In addition, some patients suffer from acuteexacerbations of the disease, typically characterized by sudden dramaticdecreases in lung function. Generally, these patients do not fullyrecover after the acute event and often die during or shortly after anexacerbation. This heterogeneity in disease trajectory suggests thatdifferent IPF patients may have different pathophysiological factorsunderlying their disease, which may be differentially susceptible tomolecularly targeted therapeutics such as formulations of the invention.

Eosinophilic inflammation is associated with a variety of illnesses,both allergic and non-allergic (Gonlugur (2006) Immunol. Invest.35(1):29-45). Inflammation is a restorative response of living tissuesto injury. A characteristic of inflammatory reactions is theaccumulation of leukocytes in injured tissue due to certain chemicalsproduced in the tissue itself. Eosinophil leukocytes accumulate in awide variety of conditions such as allergic disorders, helminthicinfections, and neoplastic diseases (Kudlacz et al., (2002) Inflammation26: 111-119). Eosinophil leukocytes, a component of the immune system,are defensive elements of mucosal surfaces. They respond not only toantigens but to parasites, chemicals, and trauma.

Tissue eosinophilia occurs in skin diseases such as eczema, pemphigus,acute urticaria, and toxic epidermal necrolysis as well as in atopicdermatitis ([Rzany et al., 1996]). Eosinophils accumulate in the tissueand empty granule proteins in IgE-mediated allergic skin reactions([Nielsen et al., 2001]). Eosinophils combined with mast cells arelikely to cause joint inflammation (Miossec et al., 1997). Eosinophilicinflammation sometimes accompanies joint trauma. Synovial fluideosinophilia can be associated with diseases such as rheumatoidarthritis, parasitic disease, hypereosinophilic syndrome, Lyme disease,and allergic processes, as well as hemarthrosis and arthrography([Atanes et al., 1996]). Eosinophilic inflammation can affect bones aswell ([Yetiser et al., 2002]). Examples of eosinophilic muscle diseaseinclude eosinophilic perimyositis, eosinophilic polymyositis, and focaleosinophilic myositis ([Lakhanpal et al., 1988]). Eosinophilicinflammations affecting skeletal muscles may be associated with parasiteinfections or drugs or features of some systemic disorders ofhypereosinophilia (e.g., idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome andeosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Eosinophils participate in theinflammatory response to epitopes recognized by autoimmune antibodies([Engineer et al., 2001]). Connective tissue diseases may lead toneutrophilic, eosinophilic, or lymphocytic vascular inflammations ([Chenet al., 1996]). Tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia can occur inactive rheumatismal diseases. Elevation of serum ECP levels inankylosing sponclylitis, a kind of connective tissue disease, suggeststhat eosinophils are also involved in the underlying process (Felteliuset al., 1987). Wegener's granulomatosis can rarely present withpulmonary nodules, pleural effusion, and peripheral blood eosinophilia([Krupsky et al., 1993]).

Peripheral blood eosinophilia of at least 400/mm3 can occur in 7% ofcases of systemic sclerosis, 31% of cases of localized scleroderma, and61% of cases of eosinophilic fasciitis ([Falanga and Medsger, 1987]).Scleroderma yields an inflammatory process closely resembling Meissner'sand Auerbach's plexuses and consists of mast cells and eosinophilleukocytes in the gastrointestinal system. Eosinophil-derivedneurotoxins can contribute to gastrointestinal motor dysfunction, asoccurs in scleroderma ([de Schryver Kecskemeti and Clouse, 1989]).

Eosinophils can accompany localized ([Varga and Kahari, 1997]) orsystemic ([Bouros et al., 2002]) connective tissue proliferation. Theycan incite fibrosis by inhibiting proteoglycan degradation infibroblasts ([Hernnas et al., 1992]), and fibroblasts mediate eosinophilsurvival by secreting GM-CSF ([Vancheri et al., 1989]). Eosinophils canbe found in nasal ([Bacherct et al., 2001]), bronchial ([Arguelles andBlanco, 1983]), and gastrointestinal polyp tissues ([Assarian andSundareson, 1985]). Likewise, eosinophils can be localized ininflammatory pseudotumors (myofibroblastic tumor). Eosinophils oftenaccompany inflammatory pseudotumors in the orbital region, in which casethe condition can mimic angioedema or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis ([Liet al., 1992]).

Eosinophilic inflammation can be found in tissue trauma (e.g., as aresult of surgery or injury). Eosinophilic inflammation can also beassociated with cardiovascular illnesses (e.g., eosinophilicmyocarditis, eosinophilic coronary arteritis, ischemic heart disease,acute myocardial infarction, cardiac rupture). Necrotic inflammatoryprocesses can also involve eosinophilic inflammation (polymyositis,coronary artery dissection, necrotizing lesions of neuro-Behcet'sdisease, dementia, cerebral infarction).

Certain Therapeutic Agents

A therapeutic agent for the treatment of asthma and other lung diseasesis provided herein. In one embodiment, therapeutic agent is an anti-IL13antibody, also referred to as lebrikizumab. Lebrikizumab as an IgG4antibody. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises threeheavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO.: 1), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO.: 2), andCDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO.: 3). In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 (SEQ ID NO.: 4), CDR-L2 (SEQ IDNO.: 5), and CDR-3 (SEQ ID NO.: 6). In one embodiment, the anti-IL13antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs and three light chain CDRs,CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO.: 1), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO.: 2), CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO.: 3),CDR-L1 (SEQ ID NO.: 4), CDR-L2 (SEQ ID NO.: 5), and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NO.:6). In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a variable heavychain region, VH, having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ IDNOs. 7 and 8. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises avariable light chain region, VL, having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises avariable heavy chain region, VH, having an amino acid sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID NOs. 7 and 8 and a variable light chain region, VL, havingan amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 or SEQ ID NO.: 11 or SEQ ID NO.: 12 or SEQ IDNO.: 13. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a lightchain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. In oneembodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having anamino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.: 10, SEQ ID NO.: 11, SEQ IDNO.: 12, and SEQ ID NO.: 13 and a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 14. Anti-IL13 antibodies are further describedin Intn'l Pub. No. 2005/062967.

In another aspect, an anti-IL-13 antibody comprises a heavy chainvariable domain (VH) sequence having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%,95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 8. In certain embodiments, a VH sequence havingat least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identitycontains substitutions (e.g., conservative substitutions), insertions,or deletions relative to the reference sequence, but an anti-IL-13antibody comprising that sequence retains the ability to bind to humanIL-13. In certain embodiments, a total of 1 to 10 amino acids have beensubstituted, altered inserted and/or deleted in SEQ ID NO.: 8. Incertain embodiments, substitutions, insertions, or deletions occur inregions outside the CDRs (i.e., in the FRs). Optionally, the anti-IL13antibody comprises the VH sequence in SEQ ID NO.: 8, includingpost-translational modifications of that sequence.

In another aspect, an anti-IL-13 antibody is provided, wherein theantibody comprises a light chain variable domain (VL) having at least90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequenceidentity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9. In certainembodiments, a VL sequence having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identity contains substitutions (e.g.,conservative substitutions), insertions, or deletions relative to thereference sequence, but an anti-IL-13 antibody comprising that sequenceretains the ability to bind to IL-13. In certain embodiments, a total of1 to 10 amino acids have been substituted, inserted and/or deleted inSEQ ID NO.: 9. In certain embodiments, the substitutions, insertions, ordeletions occur in regions outside the CDRs (i.e., in the FRs).Optionally, the anti-IL-13 antibody comprises the VL sequence in SEQ IDNO.: 9, including post-translational modifications of that sequence.

In yet another embodiment, the anti-IL-13 antibody comprises a VL regionhaving at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9 and aVH region having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,99%, or 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:8.

Certain Molecular Biomarkers

In certain instances, biomarkers, e.g., serum biomarkers, arequantitated in a biological sample obtained from a patient as a means ofselecting patients for treatment with a given therapeutic agent. U.S.Application Nos. 61/459,760, 61/465,425, 61/484,650, and 61/574,485(“Diagnosis and Treatments Related to TH2 Inhibition) describe aperiostin assay and methods selecting patients for treatment with theanti-IL13 antibody formulations described herein.

General Techniques for Formulations

Formulations comprising anti-IL13 antibodies may be prepared andanalyzed using certain excipients and techniques known in the art and asfurther described herein. In certain embodiments, the antibody to beformulated has not been subjected to prior lyophilization and theformulation of interest herein is an aqueous formulation. In certainembodiments, the antibody is a full length antibody. In one embodiment,the antibody in the formulation is an antibody fragment, such as anF(ab′) 2, in which case problems that may not occur for the full lengthantibody (such as clipping of the antibody to Fab) may need to beaddressed. The therapeutically effective amount of antibody present inthe formulation is determined by taking into account the desired dosevolumes and mode(s) of administration, for example. From about 0.1 mg/mLto about 250 mg/mL, or from about 10 mg/mL to about 200 mg/mL or fromabout 50 mg/mL to about 175 mg/mL is an exemplary antibody concentrationin the formulation. In one embodiment, the anti-IL13 antibody isformulated at a concentration of 125 mg/mL. In one embodiment, theanti-IL13 antibody is formulated at a concentration of 150 mg/mL.

An aqueous formulation is prepared comprising the antibody in apH-buffered solution. In certain embodiments, the buffer of has a pH inthe range from about 4.5 to about 6.5. In certain embodiments the pH isin the range from pH of 5.0 to 6.0, or in the range from pH 5.25 to5.75, or in the range from pH 5.3 to 5.6. In certain embodiments of theinvention, the formulation has a pH of 5.6 or about 5.6. In certainembodiments of the invention, the formulation has a pH of 5.7 or about5.7. In certain embodiments of the invention, the formulation has a pHof 5.8 or about 5.8. Examples of buffers that will control the pH withinthis range include acetate (e.g. histidine acetate, arginine acetate,sodium acetate), succinate (such as histidine succinate, argininesuccinate, sodium succinate), gluconate, citrate and other organic acidbuffers and combinations thereof. The buffer concentration can be fromabout 1 mM to about 600 mM, depending, for example, on the buffer andthe desired isotonicity of the formulation. In certain embodiments, thecontain histidine in the concentration from about 5 mM to 40 mM. In oneembodiment, the buffer is 20 mM histidine acetate, pH 5.7. In certainembodiments, the buffer is 20 mM histidine succinate, pH 5.7.

A surfactant can optionally be added to the antibody formulation.Exemplary surfactants include nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates(e.g. polysorbates 20, 80 etc) or poloxamers (e.g. poloxamer 188). Theamount of surfactant added is such that it reduces aggregation of theformulated antibody and/or minimizes the formation of particulates inthe formulation and/or reduces adsorption. For example, the surfactantmay be present in the formulation in an amount from about 0.001% toabout 0.5%, or from about 0.005% to about 0.2%, or from about 0.01% toabout 0.1%. In one embodiment, the surfactant is polysorbate 20 presentin the formulation in an amount of 0.03%.

In one embodiment, the formulation contains the above-identified agents(e.g., antibody, buffer, and surfactant) and is essentially free of oneor more preservatives, such as benzyl alcohol, phenol, m-cresol,chlorobutanol and benzethonium Cl. In one embodiment, the formulationdoes not comprise a preservative. In another embodiment, a preservativemay be included in the formulation, particularly where the formulationis a multidose formulation. The concentration of preservative may be inthe range from about 0.1% to about 2%, or from about 0.5% to about 1%.One or more other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients orstabilizers such as those described in Remington's PharmaceuticalSciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980) may be included in theformulation provided that they do not adversely affect the desiredcharacteristics of the formulation. Acceptable carriers, excipients orstabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrationsemployed and include; additional buffering agents; co-solvents;anti-oxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine; chelating agentssuch as EDTA; metal complexes (e.g. Zn-protein complexes); biodegradablepolymers such as polyesters; and/or salt-forming counterions.

While the various descriptions of chelators herein often focus on EDTA,it will be appreciated that other metal ion chelators are alsoencompassed within the invention. Metal ion chelators are well known bythose of skill in the art and include, but are not necessarily limitedto aminopolycarboxylates, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), EGTA(ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid),NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid), EDDS (ethylene diamine disuccinate), PDTA(1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DTPA(diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), ADA (beta-alaninediacetic acid),MGCA (methylglycinediacetic acid), etc. Additionally, some embodimentsherein comprise phosphonates/phosphonic acid chelators. In certainembodiments, the formulation contains methionine.

Tonicity agents, sometimes known as “stabilizers” are present to adjustor maintain the tonicity of a liquid composition. When used with large,charged biomolecules such as proteins and antibodies, they are oftentermed “stabilizers” because the can interact with the charged groups ofthe amino acid side chains, thereby lessening the potential for interand intra-molecular interactions. Tonicity agents can be present in anyamount between 0.1% to 25% by weight, or 1 to 5%, taking into accountthe relative amounts of the other ingredients. Tonicity agents includepolyhydric sugar alcohols, thrihydric or higher sugar alcohols, such asglycerin, erythritol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.

Additional stabilizers include a broad range of excipients which rangein function from bulking agents to solubility enhancers, to agentspreventing denaturation or adherence to the container wall. Stabilizerscan be present in the range from 0.1 to 10,000 parts per weight activeprotein or antibody. Typical stabilizers include: polyhydric sugaralcohols (enumerated above); amino acids such as alanine, glycine,glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, lysine, ornithine, leucine,2-phenylalanine, glutamic acid, threonine, etc.; organic sugars or sugaralcohols such as sucrose, lactose, lactitol, trehalose, stachyose,mannose, sorbose, xylose, ribose, ribitol, myoinisitose, myoinisitol,galactose, galactitol, glycerol, cyclitols (e.g., inositol),polyethylene glycol; sulfur containing reducing agents, such as urea,glutathione, thioctic acid, sodium thioglycolate, thioglycerol,α-monothioglycerol and sodium thio sulfate; low molecular weightproteins such as human serum albumin, bovine serum albumin, gelatin orother immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; monosaccharides (e.g., xylose, mannose, fructose,glucose; disaccharides (e.g., lactose, maltose, sucrose); trisaccharidessuch as raffinose; and polysaccharides such as dextrin or dextran.

Non-ionic surfactants or detergents (also known as “wetting agents”) arepresent to help solubilize the therapeutic agent as well as to protectthe therapeutic protein against agitation-induced aggregation, whichalso permits the formulation to be exposed to shear surface stresswithout causing denaturation of the active therapeutic protein orantibody. Non-ionic surfactants are present in a range of about 0.05mg/ml to about 1.0 mg/ml, preferably about 0.07 mg/ml to about 0.2mg/ml.

Suitable non-ionic surfactants include polysorbates (20, 40, 60, 65, 80,etc.), polyoxamers (184, 188, etc.), Pluronic® polyols, Triton®,polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoethers (Tween®-20, Tween®-80, etc.),lauromacrogol 400, polyoxyl 40 stearate, polyoxyethylene hydrogenatedcastor oil 10, 50 and 60, glycerol monostearate, sucrose fatty acidester, methyl celluose and carboxymethyl cellulose. Anionic detergentsthat can be used include sodium lauryl sulfate, dioctyle sodiumsulfosuccinate and dioctyl sodium sulfonate. Cationic detergents includebenzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride.

Various analytical techniques for measuring protein stability areavailable in the art and are reviewed in Peptide and Protein DrugDelivery, 247-301, Vincent Lee Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y.,Pubs. (1991) and Jones, A. Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 10: 29-90 (1993), forexample. Stability can be measured at a selected temperature for aselected time period. In certain embodiments, the formulation is stableat about 40° C. for at least about 2-4 weeks, and/or stable at about 5°C. for at least 3 months, and/or stable at about 5° C. for at least sixmonths, and/or stable at about 5° C. for at least 12 months and/orstable at about −20° C. for at least 3 months or at least 1 year. Incertain embodiments, the formulation is stable at about 25° C. for least6 months and/or stable at about 25° C. for 12 months, and/or stable atabout 5° C. for 6 months, and/or stable at about 5° C. for 12 months,and/or stable at about −20° C. for at least 6 months, and/or stable atabout −20° C. for at least 12 months, and/or stable at 5° C. or −20° C.for at least two years. In certain embodiments, the formulation isstable following freezing (to, e.g., −70° C.) and thawing of theformulation, for example following 1, 2 or 3 cycles of freezing andthawing. Stability can be evaluated qualitatively and/or quantitativelyin a variety of different ways, including evaluation of aggregateformation (for example using size exclusion chromatography, by measuringturbidity, and/or by visual inspection); by assessing chargeheterogeneity using cation exchange chromatography, image capillaryisoelectric focusing (icIEF) or capillary zone electrophoresis;amino-terminal or carboxy-terminal sequence analysis; mass spectrometricanalysis; SDS-PAGE analysis to compare reduced and intact antibody;peptide map (for example tryptic or LYS-C) analysis; evaluatingbiological activity or antigen binding function of the antibody; etc.Instability may involve any one or more of: aggregation, deamidation(e.g. Asn deamidation), oxidation (e.g. Met oxidation), isomerization(e.g. Asp isomerization), clipping/hydrolysis/fragmentation (e.g. hingeregion fragmentation), succinimide formation, unpaired cysteine(s),N-terminal extension, C-terminal processing, glycosylation differences,etc.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration should besterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterilefiltration membranes, prior to, or following, preparation of theformulation.

A therapeutic agent can be administered in accordance with knownmethods, such as intravenous administration as a bolus or by continuousinfusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal,intracerobrospinal, subcutaneous, intra-articular, intrasynovial,intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes. Optionally,administration may be performed through mini-pump infusion using variouscommercially available devices.

The formulation herein may also contain more than one active compound asnecessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably thosewith complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.Alternatively, or in addition, the composition may comprise a cytotoxicagent, cytokine or growth inhibitory agent. Such molecules are suitablypresent in combination in amounts that are effective for the purposeintended.

The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared,for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacialpolymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules,respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles andnanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 18th edition, supra.

Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples ofsustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in theform of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides(U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid andγ-ethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™(injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymerand leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid.Microencapsulation of recombinant proteins for sustained release hasbeen successfully performed with human growth hormone (rhGH),interferon-(rhIFN-), interleukin-2, and MN rpg 120. Johnson et al., Nat.Med. 2: 795-799 (1996); Yasuda et al., Biomed. Ther. 27: 1221-1223(1993); Hora et al., Bio/Technology 8: 755-758 (1990); Cleland, “Designand Production of Single Immunization Vaccines Using PolylactidePolyglycolide Microsphere Systems,” in Vaccine Design: The Subunit andAdjuvant Approach, Powell and Newman, eds., (Plenum Press: New York,1995), pp. 439-462; WO 97/03692; WO 96/40072; WO 96/07399; and U.S. Pat.No. 5,654,010.

The sustained-release formulations of these proteins may be developedusing poly lactic-coglycolic acid (PLGA) polymer due to itsbiocompatibility and wide range of biodegradable properties. Thedegradation products of PLGA, lactic and glycolic acids, can be clearedquickly within the human body. Moreover, the degradability of thispolymer can be adjusted from months to years depending on its molecularweight and composition. Lewis, “Controlled release of bioactive agentsfrom lactide/glycolide polymer”, in Biodegradable Polymers as DrugDelivery Systems (Marcel Dekker; New York, 1990), M. Chasin and R.Langer (Eds.) pp. 1-41.

While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolicacid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogelsrelease proteins for shorter time periods. When encapsulated antibodiesremain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as aresult of exposure to moisture at 37° C., resulting in a loss ofbiological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity. Rationalstrategies can be devised for stabilization depending on the mechanisminvolved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to beintermolecular S—S bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange,stabilization may be achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues,lyophilizing from acidic solutions, controlling moisture content, usingappropriate additives, and developing specific polymer matrixcompositions.

Liposomal or proteinoid compositions may also be used to formulate theproteins or antibodies disclosed herein. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,925,673and 5,013,556.

Stability of the proteins and antibodies described herein may beenhanced through the use of non-toxic “water-soluble polyvalent metalsalts”. Examples include Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Sn2+, Sn4+,Al2+ and Al3+. Example anions that can form water soluble salts with theabove polyvalent metal cations include those formed from inorganic acidsand/or organic acids. Such water-soluble salts have a solubility inwater (at 20° C.) of at least about 20 mg/ml, alternatively at leastabout 100 mg/ml, alternative at least about 200 mg/ml.

Suitable inorganic acids that can be used to form the “water solublepolyvalent metal salts” include hydrochloric, acetic, sulfuric, nitric,thiocyanic and phosphoric acid. Suitable organic acids that can be usedinclude aliphatic carboxylic acid and aromatic acids. Aliphatic acidswithin this definition may be defined as saturated or unsaturated C2-9carboxylic acids (e.g., aliphatic mono-, di- and tri-carboxylic acids).For example, exemplary monocarboxylic acids within this definitioninclude the saturated C2-9 monocarboxylic acids acetic, proprionic,butyric, valeric, caproic, enanthic, caprylic pelargonic and capryonic,and the unsaturated C2-9 monocarboxylic acids acrylic, propriolicmethacrylic, crotonic and isocrotonic acids. Exemplary dicarboxylicacids include the saturated C2-9 dicarboxylic acids malonic, succinic,glutaric, adipic and pimelic, while unsaturated C2-9 dicarboxylic acidsinclude maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids. Exemplarytricarboxylic acids include the saturated C2-9 tricarboxylic acidstricarballylic and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. Additionally, thecarboxylic acids of this definition may also contain one or two hydroxylgroups to form hydroxy carboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxy carboxylicacids include glycolic, lactic, glyceric, tartronic, malic, tartaric andcitric acid. Aromatic acids within this definition include benzoic andsalicylic acid.

Commonly employed water soluble polyvalent metal salts which may be usedto help stabilize the encapsulated polypeptides of this inventioninclude, for example: (1) the inorganic acid metal salts of halides(e.g., zinc chloride, calcium chloride), sulfates, nitrates, phosphatesand thiocyanates; (2) the aliphatic carboxylic acid metal salts (e.g.,calcium acetate, zinc acetate, calcium proprionate, zinc glycolate,calcium lactate, zinc lactate and zinc tartrate); and (3) the aromaticcarboxylic acid metal salts of benzoates (e.g., zinc benzoate) andsalicylates.

In certain embodiments, an anti-IL13 antibody is administered using, forexample, a self-inject device, autoinjector device, or other devicedesigned for self-administration. In certain embodiments, an anti-IL13antibody is administered using a subcutaneous administration device.Various self-inject devices and subcutaneous administration devices,including autoinjector devices, are known in the art and arecommercially available. Exemplary devices include, but are not limitedto, prefilled syringes (such as BD HYPAK SCF®, READYFILL™, and STERIFILLSCF™ from Becton Dickinson; CLEARSHOT™ copolymer prefilled syringes fromBaxter; and Daikyo Seiko CRYSTAL ZENITH® prefilled syringes availablefrom West Pharmaceutical Services); disposable pen injection devicessuch as BD Pen from Becton Dickinson; ultra-sharp and microneedledevices (such as INJECT-EASE™ and microinfuser devices from BectonDickinson; and H-PATCH™ available from Valeritas) as well as needle-freeinjection devices (such as BIOJECTOR® and IJECT® available from Bioject;and SOF-SERTER® and patch devices available from Medtronic). Certainembodiments of subcutaneous administration devices are described furtherherein. Co-formulations or co-administrations with such self-injectdevices or subcutaneous administration devices of an anti-IL13 antibodywith at least a second therapeutic compound are envisioned.

Recombinant Methods

Antibodies may be produced using recombinant methods and compositions,e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. In one embodiment,isolated nucleic acid encoding an anti-IL13 antibody described herein isprovided. Such nucleic acid may encode an amino acid sequence comprisingthe VL and/or an amino acid sequence comprising the VH of the antibody(e.g., the light and/or heavy chains of the antibody). In a furtherembodiment, one or more vectors (e.g., expression vectors) comprisingsuch nucleic acid are provided. In a further embodiment, a host cellcomprising such nucleic acid is provided. In one such embodiment, a hostcell comprises (e.g., has been transformed with): (1) a vectorcomprising a nucleic acid that encodes an amino acid sequence comprisingthe VL of the antibody and an amino acid sequence comprising the VH ofthe antibody, or (2) a first vector comprising a nucleic acid thatencodes an amino acid sequence comprising the VL of the antibody and asecond vector comprising a nucleic acid that encodes an amino acidsequence comprising the VH of the antibody. In one embodiment, the hostcell is eukaryotic, e.g. a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell or lymphoidcell (e.g., Y0, NS0, Sp20 cell). In one embodiment, a method of makingan anti-IL13 antibody is provided, wherein the method comprisesculturing a host cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding the antibody,as provided above, under conditions suitable for expression of theantibody, and optionally recovering the antibody from the host cell (orhost cell culture medium).

For recombinant production of an anti-IL13 antibody, nucleic acidencoding an antibody, e.g., as described above, is isolated and insertedinto one or more vectors for further cloning and/or expression in a hostcell. Such nucleic acid may be readily isolated and sequenced usingconventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that arecapable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and lightchains of the antibody).

Suitable host cells for cloning or expression of antibody-encodingvectors include prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells described herein. Forexample, antibodies may be produced in bacteria, in particular whenglycosylation and Fc effector function are not needed. For expression ofantibody fragments and polypeptides in bacteria, see, e.g., U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,648,237, 5,789,199, and 5,840,523. (See also Charlton, Methods inMolecular Biology, Vol. 248 (B. K. C. Lo, ed., Humana Press, Totowa,N.J., 2003), pp. 245-254, describing expression of antibody fragments inE. coli.) After expression, the antibody may be isolated from thebacterial cell paste in a soluble fraction and can be further purified.

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentousfungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts forantibody-encoding vectors, including fungi and yeast strains whoseglycosylation pathways have been “humanized,” resulting in theproduction of an antibody with a partially or fully human glycosylationpattern. See Gerngross, Nat. Biotech. 22:1409-1414 (2004), and Li etal., Nat. Biotech. 24:210-215 (2006).

Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated antibody are alsoderived from multicellular organisms (invertebrates and vertebrates).Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells. Numerousbaculoviral strains have been identified which may be used inconjunction with insect cells, particularly for transfection ofSpodoptera frugiperda cells.

Plant cell cultures can also be utilized as hosts. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,959,177, 6,040,498, 6,420,548, 7,125,978, and 6,417,429(describing PLANTIBODIES™ technology for producing antibodies intransgenic plants).

Vertebrate cells may also be used as hosts. For example, mammalian celllines that are adapted to grow in suspension may be useful. Otherexamples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkey kidney CV1 linetransformed by SV40 (COS-7); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293cells as described, e.g., in Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977));baby hamster kidney cells (BHK); mouse sertoli cells (TM4 cells asdescribed, e.g., in Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23:243-251 (1980)); monkeykidney cells (CV1); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76); humancervical carcinoma cells (HELA); canine kidney cells (MDCK; buffalo ratliver cells (BRL 3A); human lung cells (W138); human liver cells (HepG2); mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562); TRI cells, as described, e.g., inMather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci. 383:44-68 (1982); MRC 5 cells; andFS4 cells. Other useful mammalian host cell lines include Chinesehamster ovary (CHO) cells, including DHFR-CHO cells (Urlaub et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216 (1980)); and myeloma cell lines suchas Y0, NS0 and Sp2/0. For a review of certain mammalian host cell linessuitable for antibody production, see, e.g., Yazaki and Wu, Methods inMolecular Biology, Vol. 248 (B. K. C. Lo, ed., Humana Press, Totowa,N.J.), pp. 255-268 (2003).

Assays

Anti-IL13 antibodies provided herein may be identified, screened for, orcharacterized for their physical/chemical properties and/or biologicalactivities by various assays known in the art.

Binding Assays and Other Assays

In one aspect, an anti-IL13 antibody is tested for its antigen bindingactivity, e.g., by known methods such as ELISA, Western blot, etc.

In another aspect, competition assays may be used to identify anantibody that competes with anti-IL13 antibody for binding to IL13. Incertain embodiments, such a competing antibody binds to the same epitope(e.g., a linear or a conformational epitope) that is bound bylebrikizumab or another anti-IL13 antibody specified herein. Detailedexemplary methods for mapping an epitope to which an antibody binds areprovided in Morris (1996) “Epitope Mapping Protocols,” in Methods inMolecular Biology vol. 66 (Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.).

In an exemplary competition assay, immobilized IL13 is incubated in asolution comprising a first labeled antibody that binds to IL13 (e.g.,lebrikizumab) and a second unlabeled antibody that is being tested forits ability to compete with the first antibody for binding to IL13. Thesecond antibody may be present in a hybridoma supernatant. As a control,immobilized IL13 is incubated in a solution comprising the first labeledantibody but not the second unlabeled antibody. After incubation underconditions permissive for binding of the first antibody to IL13, excessunbound antibody is removed, and the amount of label associated withimmobilized IL13 is measured. If the amount of label associated withimmobilized IL13 is substantially reduced in the test sample relative tothe control sample, then that indicates that the second antibody iscompeting with the first antibody for binding to IL13. See Harlow andLane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual ch. 14 (Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

Activity Assays

In one aspect, assays are provided for identifying anti-IL-13 antibodieshaving biological activity. Biological activity may include, e.g.,activity in asthma. Antibodies having such biological activity in vivoand/or in vitro are also provided. In certain embodiments, an antibodyof the invention is tested for such biological activity.

Articles of Manufacture and Kits

An article of manufacture is provided which contains the formulation andprovides instructions for its use. The article of manufacture comprisesa container. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials(e.g. dual chamber vials), syringes (such as single or dual chambersyringes) and test tubes. The container may be formed from a variety ofmaterials such as glass or plastic. The container holds the formulationand the label on, or associated with, the container may indicatedirections for reconstitution and/or use. The label may further indicatethat the formulation is useful or intended for subcutaneousadministration. The container holding the formulation may be a multi-usevial, which allows for repeat administrations (e.g. from 2-6administrations) of the reconstituted formulation. The article ofmanufacture may further comprise a second container comprising asuitable diluent (e.g. BWFI). Upon mixing of the diluent and thelyophilized formulation, the final protein concentration in thereconstituted formulation will generally be at least 50 mg/ml. Thearticle of manufacture may further include other materials desirablefrom a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers,diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts withinstructions for use.

In certain embodiments, an article of manufacture comprising asubcutaneous administration device is provided which delivers to apatient a flat dose of an anti-IL13 antibody, wherein the flat dose isfor example, but not limited to, 37.5 mg, 75 mg, or 125 mg, or 150 mg.In certain embodiments, the anti-IL13 antibody is lebrikizumab. Theanti-IL 13 antibody in the subcutaneous administration device isformulated in a buffer, for example, histidine pH 5.7, and otherexcipients, for example, sucrose and polysorbate, such that it isprovided in a stable pharmaceutical formulation. In certain embodiments,the subcutaneous administration device is a prefillecl syringecomprising a glass barrel with needle and optionally, a needle shieldand also optionally, a needle shield device. In certain embodiments, thevolume contained in the syringe is 0.5 mL, 1 mL, 1.5 mL, or 2.0 mL orabout 0.5 mL, about 1 mL, about 1.5 mL, or about 2.0 mL. In certainembodiments, the needle is a staked-in needle comprising a 3-bevel tipor a 5-bevel tip. In certain embodiments, the needle is between 25 gauge(G) and 30G. In certain embodiments, the needle is between ½ inch longand ⅝ inch long. In one embodiment, the subcutaneous administrationdevice comprises a prefilled 1.0 mL low tungsten borosilicate glass(type I) syringe and a stainless steel 5-bevel 27G ½ inch long thin-wallstaked-in needle. In certain embodiments, the subcutaneousadministration device comprises a rigid needle shield. In certainembodiments, the rigid needle shield comprises a rubber formulationhaving low zinc content, for example, FM27/0 (Daetwyler) and comprises arigid polypropylene shield. In certain embodiments, the plunger rodcomprises a rubber plunger stopper. In certain embodiments, the rubberplunger stopper comprises 4023/50 rubber and FluroTec®ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) coating (West PharmaceuticalServices, Inc.). In certain embodiments, the subcutaneous administrationdevice comprises a needle safety device. Exemplary needle safety devicesinclude, but are not limited to, Ultrasafe Passive® Needle Guard X100L(Safety Syringes, Inc.) and Rexam Safe n Sound™ (Rexam).

Additional devices suitable for subcutaneous delivery include forexample, but not limited to, an injection device such as INJECT-EASE™and GENJECT™ devices; an infusion pump such as ACCU-CHECK™; an injectorpen such as GENPEN™; a needleless device such as MEDDCTOR™ andBIOJECTOR™; an autoinjector and a subcutaneous patch delivery system.

Kits will typically comprise the container described above and one ormore other containers comprising materials desirable from a commercialand user standpoint, including buffers, diluents, filters, needles,syringes, and package inserts with instructions for use. A label may bepresent on the container to indicate that the composition is used for aspecific therapy.

EXAMPLES

The following are examples of the formulations and methods of theinvention. It is understood that various other embodiments may bepracticed, given the general description provided above.

Example 1 Materials and Methods Material and Sample PreparationProcedures

Except for anti-IL13, which is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, allother antibodies used in the experiments described below were humanizedIgG1 monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies were expressed inChinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cell lines, and purified by a series ofstandard chromatography steps, including protein A and ion exchangechromatography methods. The purified antibodies were obtained asconcentrated solutions from tangential flow filtration with addedsolution buffers and stabilizers. These were the stock antibodysolutions used as starting materials for the studies described below.

These stock mAb starting materials were stored at 2-8° C. until furtheruse. Additional preparation of mAb solutions included dialysis againstlow ionic strength buffer and filtration through 0.22 μm modified PVDF(polyvinylidene fluoride) filters (Millipore Steriflip, Millipore Corp.,MA) to remove large particulates. Typically, mAb concentrations of140-150 mg/mL after dialysis were obtained. To obtain higher mAbconcentrations, 10 mL of mAb was concentrated with Amicon YM30Centriprep (Millipore Corp, MA) concentrators centrifuged at 2700 rpm.Final mAb concentrations in the dialyzed and centrifugally concentratedpreparations were determined by using gravimetric dilutions andabsorptivities at 280 nm (A280) and measurement of UV absorption at 280nm using an Agilent diode array Spectrophotometer model 8453 with a 1 cmpath length quartz cuvette. Extinction coefficients were determined byquantitative amino acid analysis.

Monoclonal antibody solutions for light scattering experiments wereprepared in 20 mL scintillation vials over 0.5-275 mg/mL by gravimetricdilution of known stock solution concentrations in a laminar flow hood.All scintillation vials were carefully cleaned with deionized water anddried in a stream of filtered compressed nitrogen gas. Before additionto protein solutions, all buffer and reagent solutions were additionallyfiltered through 0.10 um Whatman Anotop 25 filters. After preparation ordilution of the samples, mAb solutions were mixed to homogeneity andallowed to reach thermal and chemical equilibrium at controlled roomtemperature for 2 hours. Protein solutions were centrifuged at roomtemperature for 20-30 minutes at 3000 rpm to remove adventitious dustand bubbles from the solutions prior to use for light scattering. Thehigher concentration solutions (mAb >170 mg/mL) were centrifuged forgreater lengths of time until the light scattering signal showed aminimum of noise. Exterior surfaces of scintillation vials were lightlycoated with silicone oil to reduce undesired scattering from vialsurface defects. Samples prepared as above were directly placed in thelight scattering instrument for measurements.

Determination of B₂ by Multi-Angle Light Scattering

Sample preparation for light scattering utilized 20 mL Teflon®-linedseptum cap vials which were cleaned with MilliQ water and dried under astream of filtered nitrogen gas. Sample of various concentrations wereprepared by taking an appropriate volume of the stock mAb solution atapproximately 80 mg/mL, diluting first to approximately 8 mg/mL with theappropriate buffer, and then performing a final dilution with 20 mL of0.2 μm filtered buffer. A total of eight protein concentrations(0.05-1.1 mg/mL mAb) for each buffer condition were equilibrated for14-18 hours at room temperature prior to initiating measurements. Allmeasurements were made as a series of solutions of increasing proteinconcentrations, with each experiment performed in triplicate. An Agilentsolvent degasser and isocratic pump (Agilent, Palo Alto, Calif.), with a25 mm Millipore (Millipore, Billerica, Mass.) solvent filter (PVDF, 0.1μm), were used with a continuous flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Sampleinjection was automated with a Gilson GX281 (Gilson, Inc., MiddletonWis.) liquid handling unit configured with a 2 mL injection loop and aWyatt Technology Deutschland inline micro-filter with 0.1 μm, 10 mM PVDFmembrane. Concentration and light scattering measurements were conductedin series, with an Agilent MWD UV detector measuring at 280 nm, followedby the 18-angle EOS MALS detector (Wyatt Technology Corporation, SantaBarbara, Calif.) with gain reduced to 21x. Data were acquired andprocessed in Astra™ 4.90.07 (WTC) software, with further analysisconducted by exporting slice results. Plots of K*c/R(θ=0)/K*c/ or1/M_(wapp) vs. concentration with linear regression fitting of data giveslope=2B₂, and an intercept of 1/M_(w0), the weight average molecularweight at infinite dilution.

High Concentration Multi-Angle Static Light Scattering (SLS)

An 18-angle Dawn EOS light scattering detector with a 30 mW solid statelaser (λ=690 nm) from Wyatt Technology (Santa Barbara, Calif.) was usedfor all static light scattering measurements with a water-cooled Peltiertemperature controller set at 23° C. The instrument was calibrated with99.9% Toluene (Chromatography grade). For a typical scintillation vialexperiment, a detector gain setting of 1× was used for all photodiodes,at fixed angles of 38° to 148°. Since the radius of gyration (Rg) ofanti-CD11a is less than 10 nm, a dilute solution (1-2 mg/mL) of anti-CD11a was used at each salt concentration to normalize the angulardependency of the photodiodes relative to the 90° detector using aphotodiode detector gain setting of 21× at the end of each experiment.Measurement of static light scattering intensity was conducted as afunction of mAb concentration from 0.5 mg/mL to 275 mg/mL, and as afunction of NaCl concentration (0-600 mM). Scattering data for eachsample/vial was collected over an interval of 5-10 minutes with a datacollection frequency of 12 points/minute. Astra 4.90.07 Software (WyattTechnology Corporation, Santa Barbara, Calif.) was used to acquire andprocess the static light scattering data, with a do/dc value of 0.185applied to calculations which could be exported as slice results.Further analysis and calculations with the exported results wereconducted in Microsoft. Excel, Origin v7.5, and MATLAB R14. For highconcentration light scattering data, it was often easier to interpretthe results in the format of M_(Wapp) vs. mAb concentration, whereincreases in molecular weight corresponded to the presence ofconcentration dependent reversible self-association. (See, e.g.,Scherer, T. M., et al. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 114(40):12948-12957 (2010); Minton, A. P., J Pharm Sci 96(12): 3466-9 (2007);Minton, A. P. Biophysical Journal 93(4): 1321-1328 (2007).

Turbidity by UV Spectroscopy

The turbidities for tested protein solutions from the high concentrationlight scattering experiments and for protein solutions from the pHScreen experiment (each, as further described below) were measured atambient temperature by using an Agilent 8453 Spectrophotometer. Theturbidity was calculated as the average of the absorbance at wavelength350 nm where the sum of the absorbance values over the wavelength range340 nm to 360 nm at 5 nm increments was divided by 5. The measurementsof protein solutions were performed in a small volume quartz cuvettewith a 1 cm pathlength. Absorbance at 690 nm was also recorded.

Capillary Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Charaterization ofMelting Temperature (Tm)

Protein thermal conformational stability was assessed by using aMicroCal Capillary Differential Scanning calorimeter. MAbs were dilutedto 1 mg/mL in buffer. Five hundred microliters of the protein and itsmatching buffer were loaded into a 96 well plate. The heat capacity wasmonitored as the temperature was increased from 15 to 95° C. at a scanrate of 60° C./hr. VPViewer 2000 Cap DSC was used to acquire the dataand MicroCal, LLC DSC Data Analysis was used to analyze data. SeeYaclav, S. et al., J Pharm Sci. 99(3):1152-68 (2010).

Nephelometry

Nephelometric measurements were made using a HACH (Model 2100AN IS)Laboratory Turbidimeter Instrument with 90 degree detection of scatteredintensity. The detector was calibrated with Forrnazin standard 4000nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) stock solution, with 0-0.5 relativeturbidity standard concentration. Samples were placed in cuvettes andmeasured in duplicate reporting mean NTU of the sample.

Rheology

Viscosities of samples were measured with a MCR300 rheometer (AntonPaar, Ashland, Va.) using a cone and plate measuring system. Sampleswere loaded onto the lower measuring plate and were allowed to come tothermal equilibrium at 25° C. A solvent trap was used to prevent solventevaporation. The sample went through two cycles of shear-rate sweeps(each cycle includes ramping up from 10 sec⁻¹ to 1000 sec⁻¹, holding at1000 sec⁻¹ for 1 minute, ramping down from 1000 sec⁻¹ to 10 sec⁻¹).There is one 1-minute resting time between the cycles. The reportedvalue is the average of the two shear rate sweeps of one sample at 1000sec⁻¹. The error bar represents the standard deviation of the two runsin units of milliPascal-second (mPas). The sample was under shear stressfor 2 minutes total at 1000 sec⁻¹. We chose 1000 sec⁻¹ because theviscosity is relatively independent of shear rates in this range (200sec⁻¹<shear rate <2000 sec⁻¹). The viscosity difference between twoaliquots of one sample was within ±0.5 mPa at 1000 sec⁻¹. The durationof measurement at each shear rate was optimized using US200 software(Anton Paar, Ashland, Va.).

Cloud Temperature Determination

For a system that undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS),decreasing the temperature results in the formation of droplets of oneliquid phase in the other phase. The temperature at which these dropletsare formed is termed the cloud temperature, and may be experimentallydetermined either by microscopy or by monitoring the transmissibility ofthe solution. For the experiments described here, the cloud temperaturewas determined by monitoring the loss in transmissibility at 600 nm as afunction of temperature in an Aviv 14DS spectrophotometer (AvivBiomedical, Lakewood, N.J.). A 5 mm square cuvette was filled withapproximately 0.6 mL of the antibody solution. The temperature wasdecreased from 25° C. to 0° C. in 0.5° C. steps using a thermoelectricchiller. The sample was equilibrated for 10 minutes at each temperatureprior to recording the transmission. The cloud temperature wasdesignated as the temperature at which the % transmissibility decreasedto 50% of the starting value (Asherie, 2004). The Tc for anti-IL13 phaseseparation at different protein concentrations and in different studysolutions were measured by using an Aviv Biomedical Model 14S UV-VisSpectrophotometer. The percent transmittance vs temperature data wascollected with a temperature scan from 25° C. to 0° C. at a step size of−0.5° C., equilibration time of 600 seconds, and a wavelength of 600 nm.Measurements of protein solutions were performed in a quartz cuvettewith a 1 cm pathlength.

Size Exclusion Chromatography

Size exclusion chromatography was used to quantitate aggregates andfragments. This assay utilized a TSK G3000 SWXLTM, 7.8×300 mm column andran on an HP 1100TM HPLC system at 25° C. Samples were diluted to 2mg/mL with the mobile phase and injection volume was 25 μL. The mobilephase was 0.2 M K₂HPO₄, 0.25 M KCl, at pH 6.2 and the protein was elutedat a steady flow rate of 0.5 mL/min for 30 minutes. The eluentabsorbance was monitored at 280 nm Integration was done using HPCHEMSTATIONM™ software.

Imaged Capillary Isoelectric Focusing (icIEF)

Samples were assayed using icIEF to quantify charge (acidic and basic)variants of anti-IL13 antibody stability samples. This method used afluorocarbon coated capillary (Convergent Bioscience) in a iCE280Analyzer (Convergent Bioscience) with a PrinCE microinjector. Solutionsof anolyte and catholyte were purchased from GE Healthcare Biosciences;solutions of pI markers were purchased from Convergent Bioscience).

Capillary Electrophoresis-Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (CE-SDS)

CE-SDS was carried out using a Beckman P/ACE MDQ or PA800 capillaryelectrophoresis system, capable of capillary temperature control from 20to 40±2° C., with LIF detector at 488 nm excitation.

Anti-IL13 Antibody Potency Assay

The biological activity or potency of anti-IL13 antibody solutions wasassessed using a cell culture assay which measured the ability ofanti-IL13 antibody solutions to inhibit IL-13 induced luciferaseexpression in the human bronchial epithelial cell line, L-Beas-2B cells(available from ATCC, ATCC Cat. No. CRL-9609™). Varying concentrationsof anti-IL13 antibody standard, control, and samples were mixed with afixed concentration of IL-13 (e.g., rhu-IL13, Peprotech, Cat. No.200-13) and added to a 96-well plate seeded with L-Beas-2B cells at aconcentration of 2×10⁵ cells/mL. Following incubation, expression ofluciferase was quantitated using a luminescent luciferase substrateaccording to manufacturer's instructions (Bright-Glo™ Luciferase AssaySystem, Promega Cat. No. E2620, E2650, or Brite-Lite Plus, Perkin ElmerCat. No. 6016761). Dilution curves for each antibody solution weregenerated and compared to reference material. The results were expressedin relative luminescence units (RLU). A Relative Potency Estimate wascalculated using the method of least squares and a Parallel LineAnalysis program. The % Specific Activity was calculated by multiplyingthe Relative Potency Estimate by the Specific Activity of ReferenceMaterial.

Anti-IL13 Antibody (Lebrikizumab) Amino Acid Sequences

The table below shows the amino acid sequences of the CDR-H1, CDR-H2,CDR-H3, CDR-L1, CDR-L2, and CDR-L3 regions of lebrikizumab, along withVH, VL, heavy chain sequences and light chain sequences. As indicated inTable 1 below, VH and the heavy chain may include an N-terminalglutamine and the heavy chain may also include a C-terminal lysine. Asis well known in the art, N-terminal glutamine residues can formpyroglutamate and C-terminal lysine residues can be clipped duringmanufacturing processes.

TABLE 1 Anti-IL13 antibody (lebrikizumab) amino acid sequences CDR-H1Ala Tyr Ser Val Asn (SEQ ID NO.: 1) CDR-H2Met Ile Trp Gly Asp Gly Lys Ile Val Tyr Asn Ser Ala Leu Lys (SEQ ID SerNO.: 2) CDR-H3 Asp Gly Tyr Tyr Pro Tyr Ala Met Asp Asn (SEQ ID NO.: 3)CDR-L1 Arg Ala Ser Lys Ser Val Asp Ser Tyr Gly Asn Ser Phe Met His(SEQ ID NO.: 4) CDR-L2 Leu Ala Ser Asn Leu Glu Ser (SEQ ID NO.: 5)CDR-L3 Gln Gln Asn Asn Glu Asp Pro Arg Thr (SEQ ID NO.: 6) VHVal Thr Leu Arg Glu Ser Gly Pro Ala Leu Val Lys Pro Thr Gln (SEQ IDThr Leu Thr Leu Thr Cys Thr Val Ser Gly Phe Ser Leu Ser Ala Tyr NO: 7)Ser Val Asn Trp Ile Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Lys Ala Leu Glu Trp LeuAla Met Ile Trp Gly Asp Gly Lys Ile Val Tyr Asn Ser Ala Leu LysSer Arg Leu Thr Ile Ser Lys Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gln Val Val LeuThr Met Thr Asn Met Asp Pro Val Asp Thr Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys AlaGly Asp Gly Tyr Tyr Pro Tyr Ala Met Asp Asn Trp Gly Gln Gly SerLeu Val Thr Val Ser Ser VHGln Val Thr Leu Arg Glu Ser Gly Pro Ala Leu Val Lys Pro Thr Gln (SEQ IDThr Leu Thr Leu Thr Cys Thr Val Ser Gly Phe Ser Leu Ser Ala Tyr NO: 8)Ser Val Asn Trp Ile Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Lys Ala Leu Glu Trp LeuAla Met Ile Trp Gly Asp Gly Lys Ile Val Tyr Asn Ser Ala Leu LysSer Arg Leu Thr Ile Ser Lys Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gln Val Val LeuThr Met Thr Asn Met Asp Pro Val Asp Thr Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys AlaGly Asp Gly Tyr Tyr Pro Tyr Ala Met Asp Asn Trp Gly Gln Gly SerLeu Val Thr Val Ser Ser VLAsp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ser Val Ser Leu Gly (SEQ IDGlu Arg Ala Thr Ile Asn Cys Arg Ala Ser Lys Ser Val Asp Ser Tyr NO.: 9)Gly Asn Ser Phe Met His Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Pro ProLys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Leu Ala Ser Asn Leu Glu Ser Gly Val Pro AspArg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile SerSer Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Asn AsnGlu Asp Pro Arg Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg H ChainVTLRESGPA LVKPTQTLTL TCTVSGFSLS AYSVNWIRQP PGKALEWLAM (SEQ IDIWGDGKIVYN SALKSRLTIS KDTSKNQVVL TMTNMDPVDT ATYYCAGDGY NO: 10)YPYAMDNWGQ GSLVTVSSAS TKGPSVFPLA PCSRSTSEST AALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL YSLSSVVTVP SSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNT KVDKRVESKY GPPCPPCPAP EFLGGPSVFL FPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCV VVDVSQEDPE VQFNWYVDGV EVHNAKTKPR EEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCK VSNKGLPSSI EKTISKAKGQ PREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQ VSLTCLVKGF YPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYK TTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTV DKSRWQEGNV FSCSVMHEAL HNHYTQKSLS LSLG H ChainQVTLRESGPA LVKPTQTLTL TCTVSGFSLS AYSVNWIRQP PGKALEWLAM (SEQ IDIWGDGKIVYN SALKSRLTIS KDTSKNQVVL TMTNMDPVDT ATYYCAGDGY NO.: 11)YPYAMDNWGQ GSLVTVSSAS TKGPSVFPLA PCSRSTSEST AALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL YSLSSVVTVP SSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNT KVDKRVESKY GPPCPPCPAP EFLGGPSVFL FPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCV VVDVSQEDPE VQFNWYVDGV EVHNAKTKPR EEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCK VSNKGLPSSI EKTISKAKGQ PREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQ VSLTCLVKGF YPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYK TTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTV DKSRWQEGNV FSCSVMHEAL HNHYTQKSLS LSLG H ChainVTLRESGPA LVKPTQTLTL TCTVSGFSLS AYSVNWIRQP PGKALEWLAM (SEQ IDIWGDGKIVYN SALKSRLTIS KDTSKNQVVL TMTNMDPVDT ATYYCAGDGY NO.: 12)YPYAMDNWGQ GSLVTVSSAS TKGPSVFPLA PCSRSTSEST AALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL YSLSSVVTVP SSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNT KVDKRVESKY GPPCPPCPAP EFLGGPSVFL FPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCV VVDVSQEDPE VQFNWYVDGV EVHNAKTKPR EEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCK VSNKGLPSSI EKTISKAKGQ PREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQ VSLTCLVKGF YPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYK TTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTV DKSRWQEGNV FSCSVMHEAL HNHYTQKSLS LSLGK H ChainQVTLRESGPA LVKPTQTLTL TCTVSGFSLS AYSVNWIRQP PGKALEWLAM (SEQ IDIWGDGKIVYN SALKSRLTIS KDTSKNQVVL TMTNMDPVDT ATYYCAGDGY NO.: 13)YPYAMDNWGQ GSLVTVSSAS TKGPSVFPLA PCSRSTSEST AALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL YSLSSVVTVP SSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNT KVDKRVESKY GPPCPPCPAP EFLGGPSVFL FPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCV VVDVSQEDPE VQFNWYVDGV EVHNAKTKPR EEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCK VSNKGLPSSI EKTISKAKGQ PREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQ VSLTCLVKGF YPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYK TTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTV DKSRWQEGNV FSCSVMHEAL HNHYTQKSLS LSLGK L ChainDIVMTQSPDS LSVSLGERAT INCRASKSVD SYGNSFMHWY QQKPGQPPKL (SEQ IDLIYLASNLES GVPDRFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLQAEDVAVY YCQQNNEDPR NO.: 14)TFGGGTKVEI KRTVAAPSVF IFPPSDEQLK SGTASVVCLL NNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQS GNSQESVTEQ DSKDSTYSLS STLTLSKADY EKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVT KSFNRGEC

Results Physical and Chemical Stability of Anti-IL13 AntibodyFormulations at Various pH

Buffers with varying pH were made using either 20 mM histidine acetateor 20 mM sodium phosphate to cover the pH range 5.4-7.8. The histidineacetate buffers covered the pH range of 5.4-6.0 and the sodium phosphatebuffers covered the pH range of 6.6-7.8. For each buffer pH, thefollowing were held constant: anti-IL13 antibody concentration at 150mg/ml, 175 mM sucrose and 0.3 mg/mL (0.03%) polysorbate 20.

Antibody solutions were stored in vials for the time periods and at thetemperatures indicated in Table 2 below. At various times, indicated by“X” in Table 2, samples were assayed by various methods to assessphysical stability, including SEC, A350 turbidity and non-reducingCE-SDS, and chemical stability, including icIEF.

TABLE 2 Stability timepoints and conditions used to determine physicaland chemical stability anti-IL13 antibody solutions. Weeks at StorageCondition week Temperature 0 1 2 4 6 8 12 −70° C.  X 2-8° C. X X  30° C.X X X X X X

FIG. 1 shows the percent monomer loss per week in buffers at theindicated pH as determined by SEC. As shown in FIG. 1, % monomer losswas lower in the lower pH range than in the higher pH range, with thelowest % monomer loss at pH 5.7, which showed a % monomer loss/week of0.056.

Another physical stability assay measured changes in turbidity (asdetermined by A350) over time at 30° C. as a function of pH. As shown inFIG. 2, the initial turbidities and changes are higher for the buffersbetween pH5.4-6.0 than at the higher pH ranges. In FIG. 2, neatturbidity is A350=1/T where T is transmitted light intensity at 350 nmwith a specified path length of 1 cm.

A third physical stability assay measured increases in low molecularweight (LMW) soluble fragments and high molecular weight (HMW)aggregates in anti-IL13 antibody solutions during six weeks of storageat 30° C. as a function of pH. As shown in FIG. 3, fragmentation ratesand aggregation rates were lowest in the lower pH range, pH 5.4-6.6.

We also assessed chemical stability using icIEF to determine changes inthe rate of acidic and basic variant formation over time at 30° C. as afunction of pH (FIG. 4) and changes in the rate of basic variant andmain peak loss over time at 30° C. as a function of pH (FIG. 5). Asshown in FIG. 4, the rate of acidic variant was lowest in the low pHrange and highest in the high pH range, while the rate of basic variant(BV1 peak) was lowest in the high pH range and highest in the low pHrange. The results shown in FIG. 5 indicate that main peak loss wasminimized between pH 5.4-6.0.

To determine whether pH affected solution viscosity, we performedrheological characterization of different anti-IL13 antibodyconcentrations (ranging from 0 to 200 mg/mL antibody) at varying pH(ranging from pH 5.5-7.2). Each solution had 175 mM sucrose and 0.3mg/mL polysorbate 20. The results are shown in FIG. 6. Those resultsindicate that a consistent viscosity profile was maintained regardlessof solution pH for a given antibody concentration. In particular, theresults showed that viscosity at higher antibody concentrations were notinfluenced by pH.

Taken together, the data presented in FIGS. 1-6 show that there was ashallow gradient for most physical and chemical changes at pH 5.4-6.0.The 20 mM histidine acetate buffer at pH 5.7 was therefore chosen forsubsequent studies and formulation assessment.

Rheological Characterization of High Concentration Monoclonal AntibodySolutions

To explore whether the viscosity observed (<15 cP at 25° C.) for theanti-IL13 antibody formulated at 150 mg/mL in 20 mM histidine acetate pH5.7, 175 mM sucrose, 0.3 mg/mL polysorbate 20 would be generallyobserved for various different antibodies, we tested the viscosity ofthree additional antibodies in similar formulations at 150 mg/mL. Such aviscosity profile as observed for the anti-IL13 antibody is desirablefor manufacturing at high antibody concentration and for certain routesof drug administration, for example, subcutaneous injection. As shown inFIG. 7, anti-IL13 antibody maintained a viscosity profile similar to theanti-CD11a antibody with viscosity of <15 cP at 25° C. In contrast, theanti-CD20 antibody and the mAb-1 antibody showed quite differentviscosity profiles. The viscosity of the anti-CD20 antibody at 150 mg/mLwas >15 cP at 25° C., while mAb-1 could not be formulated at 150 mg/mLin this buffer formulation due to significant problems with viscosity ascan be seen in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows that the viscosity of mAb-1 at 125mg/mL was >45 cP at 25° C. Accordingly, it is clear from this data thedifferent antibodies have different rheological characteristics whenformulated at 150 mg/mL in 20 mM histidine acetate pH 5.7, 175 mMsucrose, 0.3 mg/mL polysorbate 20.

Characterization of Visual Appearance and Opalescence

We characterized the visual appearance and opalescence of the anti-IL13antibody formulation in comparison to an anti-CD20 antibody formulationusing 90 degree nephelometry and measurements of A350 turbidity. FIG. 8shows the quantification of visual appearance of the two differentantibody formulations in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). In FIG. 8,R1, R2, R3, and R4 refer to reference standards with R4 having thehighest degree of visual opalescence and R1 having the lowest. Themeasurements of A350 turbidity for the anti-IL13 and anti-CD20antibodies are shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, for each antibodyformulation, turbidity increased with increasing protein concentration.The results shown in these figures demonstrate that two differentmeasurements of visual appearance for two antibodies have differenttrends, especially at higher protein concentrations due to differencesin what is intrinsically measured. The data also show that themeasurement trends are consistent between these two antibodies whichappear to have elevated solution opalescence.

We also examined anti-IL13 antibody concentration as a function ofconcentration and pH. The results are shown in FIG. 10. Solutionsshowing the greatest turbidity were in the vicinity of the mAbisoelectric point (pI).

While not being bound by theory, we interpret these results to indicatethat the absorbance at 350 nm wavelength (turbidity) increased withincreasing protein concentration due to the absorption of light by theprotein absorption band, with maxima around 280 nm due to the broad tailof this peak. A second contributing factor to the increased A350 vsconcentration of mAb solutions was the non-linear increase in lightscattering, reducing the total transmitted light.

In addition, we assessed subvisible particle counts as a function of mAbconcentration and those results are shown in FIG. 11. No significantincrease in subvisible particulate >2 μm in size was observed by HIAClight obscuration analysis indicating that particulate matter >2 μm doesnot contribute to the opalescence or turbidity of anti-IL13 antibodysolutions. FIG. 12 shows measurements of nephelometric, turbidimetricand static light scattering of 125 mg/mL solution of anti-IL13 antibodywhen the antibody solutions were filtered with increasingly small poresizes (down to 0.1 μm or 100 nm). These results shown in FIGS. 11 and 12collectively indicate that the anti-IL13 antibody solution and drugproduct formulation appearance are not determined by subvisible orsubmicron particulate matter inducing concentration dependence of lightscattering.

Next, we investigated the dependence of solution appearance as afunction of solution pH at 125 mg/mL and 204 mg/mL. Solution appearancewas assessed using a temperature scan of the transmitted light intensityat 600 nm. The results are shown in FIG. 13 and indicate that anti-IL13antibody solution opalescence, which remained constant as a function ofdecreasing temperature, was not due to critical phenomena such asliquid-liquid phase separation, where solution components have divergentsolubility and form two separate phases of distinct composition. Thissuggests that solution homogeneity (phase separation) across a range oftypical storage and/or exposure temperatures is not influenced bytemperature despite the initial solution opalescence/visual appearance(at room temperature).

Thermal Stability (T_(melt)) Studies

We measured the thermal melting transition peaks for two partiallyresolved peaks in the capillary differential scanning calorimeter as afunction of formulation composition and solution pH. The results areshown in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, a maxima in melting transitionbehavior for anti-IL13 as a function of pH was observed between pH6.0-7.5. The prevailing scientific opinion is that the lower the meltingtransition occurs, the lower the expected physical stability of thesystem upon storage for any duration. See, e.g., Chi et al., ProteinScience 12(5):903-913 (2003); Chi et al., Pharmaceutical Research 20(9):1325-1336 (2003); Goldberg et al., J. Pharm. Sciences 100(4):1306-1315(2011). Thus, the physical stability data shown herein for the anti-IL13antibody formulation (pH 5.7) was surprising and unexpected.

Colloidal Stability

Colloidal stability was measured by static light scattering using dilutesolutions of antibody (between 0.10-1 mg/mL) as well as light scatteringat antibody concentrations exceeding 200 mg/mL. Colloidal stabilityrefers to the solution behavior of macromolecules suspended in solution,and allows one to investigate the equilibrium, time averagedinteractions between macromolecules such as monoclonal antibodies.Without being bound by theory, when interactions are repulsive, then thesolution composition can be expected to remain stable. Net attractiveinteractions between solute molecules occur, however, and are generallyassociated with phase transitions and protein solubility problems.

We measured osmotic second virial coefficients (B₂) for anti-IL13antibody (at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) as a functionof solution pH with samples in simple buffers. Note that in FIGS. 15 and16, values above 0 are positive osmotic second virial coefficients whichindicate net repulsive interactions and values below 0 are negativeosmotic second virial coefficients which indicate net attractiveintermolecular interactions. The data in FIG. 15 shows that anti-IL13antibody had attractive interactions across the pH range, but that thestrongest attractive interactions occurred between pH 5.5-6.5. For theresults shown in FIG. 16, formulation additives were added to thesolutions at different pHs. As can be seen in FIG. 16, the measuredosmotic second virial coefficients at pH 5.5-6.5 remained negative andtherefore attractive. Measurements of light scattering with amulti-angle light scattering detector across the range of concentrations1-200 mg/mL extrapolating intensities to scattering angle of 0 are shownin FIG. 17. These data revealed that the scattered intensity profile washighly similar to that observed for the HACH nephelometer (compare FIG.8 to FIG. 17). Both instruments measure the scattered light intensity,and therefore the Rayleigh scattering. This scattering dominates insolutions free of particulates and is caused by small density andconcentration fluctuations of the solution that are also dependent onthe interactions between the scattering molecules. The decrease inscattered light intensity occurs when the molecules are increasingly inclose contact with one another and their positions in time/space becomecorrelated resulting in destructive interference of scattered light(See, e.g., Bettelheim et al., Biophysical Journal 41(1): 29-33 (1983);Xia et al., Biophysical Journal 66(3_Pt_(—)1): 861-872 (1994); and Xiaet al., Biophysical Journal 41(1): 29-33 (1996). FIG. 18 shows staticlight scattering data for anti-IL13 antibody as a function offormulation pH. The data in FIG. 18 are represented as apparentmolecular weights observed at antibody concentrations up to 200 mg/mL.The data shown in FIG. 18 indicated weak (pH 7.2) to moderatelyattractive colloidal (pH 6.5) interactions and anti-IL13 antibodyself-association across the concentration range, relative to thetheoretical scattering for a simple hard sphere species model of mAbexcluded volume (dashed line in FIG. 18).

Both anti-IL13 and anti-CD20 showed comparable levels of turbiditycaused by attractive colloidal interactions and mAb self association asshown in FIG. 19. Surprisingly, such attractive colloidal interactionsdid not manifest as high viscosities (e.g., >15 cP at 150 mg/mL) orrheological problems with the formulation for anti-IL13 antibody asshown in FIG. 20. The colloidal interactions for anti-CD20 antibody,however, did have an effect on solution rheology, resulting not only insolution opalescence (FIG. 8) but also high viscosities of >15 cP at 25°C. and 150 mg/mL (FIG. 20).

Long Term Physical, Chemical, and Potency Stability

To test long term stability and potency, anti-IL13 antibody wasformulated at 125 mg/mL in 20 mM histidine acetate pH 5.7, 175 mMsucrose and 0.3 mg/mL polysorbate 20 and then subjected to variousstorage conditions. Vials were stored at either 5° C. or 25° C. for thenumber of weeks shown in Table 3 (up to 156 weeks at 5° C. and up to 26weeks at 25° C.). At each time point as indicated in Table 3, sampleswere analyzed for color appearance and clarity (CAC), pH, and theindicated chemical or physical stability measurement. In addition,biological activity (potency) was also assessed at each time point. Asindicated by the data shown in Table 3, the anti-IL13 antibodyformulated at 125 mg/mL in 20 mM histidine acetate pH 5.7, 175 mMsucrose and 0.3 mg/mL polysorbate 20 maintained potency and demonstratedgood chemical and physical stability at 5° C. for the entire 156 weeks(three years) and at 25° C. for the entire 26 weeks. These data confirmthat this formulation maintains the desired chemical, physical andpotency attributes of the anti-IL13 antibody for an extended period oftime.

TABLE 3 Stability and conditions used to determine long term physical,chemical, and potency stability of anti-IL13 antibody. Storage SEC icIEFCE-SDS Temp Time Visual % % Main % Main Strength Osmolality Potency (°C.) (Weeks) CAC pH Monomer Peak Peak (mg/mL) (mOsm/kg) (% SpecificActivity) −70 T = 0 0 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.6 99.5 72 98 119 267 101  4 SY,LIQ, SOPL 5.6 99.5 74 98 128 268 98 8 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.6 99.5 74 98 124270 NT 12 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.6 99.5 74 98 125 265 98 26 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.899.3 73 98 125 264 99  5 39 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.8 99.4 74 98 123 265 95 52SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.3 72 98 122 269 102  78 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.2 7298 125 266 95 104 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.1 73 98 124 275 100  130 SY, LIQ,SOPL 5.8 99.3 72 98 124 273  93* 156 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.8 99.1 71 98 125268 94 1 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.6 99.5 71 98 125 264 NT 2 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.799.4 72 98 124 265 NT 4 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.2 71 97 123 264 102  25 8SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.1 68 97 125 268 98 12 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.7 99.0 62 97123 270 94 26 SY, LIQ, SOPL 5.8 98.7 57 96 129 268 91 CAC: ColorAppearance and Clarity SY = Slightly Yellow LIQ = Liquid SOPL = SlightlyOpalescent

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that anti-IL13 antibody has been successfully formulatedat pH and solution conditions with excipients that promote both the longterm chemical and physical stability and maintain potency. Specifically,that formulation comprised antibody at concentrations of 100 mg/mL andabove, including 125 mg/mL and 150 mg/mL, in 20 mM histidine acetatepH5.7, 175 mM sucrose and 0.3 mg/mL polysorbate 20. Surprisingly, wefound that the formulation had a desirable viscosity profile of <15 cPat 25° C. Such a viscosity profile is desirable for manufacturabilityand also for ease of administration e.g., for subcutaneous injectionwhere a high concentration of drug product in a small volume is optimalfor several reasons including patient comfort and compliance. Weobserved that other antibodies in the same or similar formulation had anundesirable viscosity profile of >15 cP at 25° C., which highlights theunpredictability of the viscosity profile for anti-IL13 antibodyformulations.

In addition, two often used criteria for protein formulation selectioninclude thermal stability and colloidal stability (See Chi et al.,Protein Science 12(5):903-913 (2003); Chi et al., PharmaceuticalResearch 20(9): 1325-1336 (2003)). Thermal analysis of unfoldingtemperatures of anti-IL13 antibody solutions suggested that the physicalstability at conditions pH 5.4-6.0 would not be optimal for physicalstability of the antibody formulation. Colliodal stability analysis ofanti-IL13 antibody solutions also suggested that the formulationconditions in the pH range 5.5-6.5 would be least desirable to maintainlow aggregation rates. Yet, surprisingly, as shown by the data presentedhere, anti-IL13 antibody formulated at pH 5.7 demonstrated good physicalstability over an extended period of time at 5° C. and also underaccelerated conditions. It was also surprising that product stabilityunder these conditions was superior to that observed at higher pHs, bothphysically and chemically, even though there was lower thermal meltingtransitions and colloidal stability. While the formulated anti-IL13antibody solution appearance (and turbidity) was more opalescent in theselected formulation conditions than in certain unselected conditions,the molecular properties and formulation composition maintained optimalstability under both real time and accelerated storage conditions,maintained potency, and provided the desired solution rheologicalproperties for delivery of high concentrations of drug product in asmall volume.

Subcutaneous Administration Device

A subcutaneous administration device comprising a prefilled syringe withneedle, a plunger with plunger stopper, a needle shield and a needlesafety device for administration of the anti-IL13 formulation describedabove was selected by evaluating a variety of commercially-availablecomponents. For example, the components evaluated included glass cane,formed syringes with staked-in needle, plungers and plunger stoppers,rigid needle shields and needle safety devices.

The various components were evaluated in various combinations accordingto methods known to one skilled in the art for the effects onformulation properties including, but not limited to, stability, andother considerations such as patient comfort and convenience, whichincludes factors such as the impact of needle gauge and internal needlediameter on injection time and glide forces when the formulation hascertain viscosities as described herein. These studies led us to selectas an optimal subcutaneous administration device for the administrationof lebrikizumab formulated at high concentration as described herein aprefilled 1.0 mL low tungsten borosilicate glass (type I) syringe and astainless steel 5-bevel 27G ½ inch thin-wall staked-in needle with arigid needle shield comprising FM427/0 (Daetwyler) and a rigidpolypropylene shield. In addition, the plunger rod comprised a rubberplunger stopper comprising 4023/50 rubber and FluroTec®ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) coating (West PharmaceuticalServices, Inc.). The subcutaneous administration device also comprised aneedle safety device, Ultrasafe Passive® Needle Guard X100L (SafetySyringes, Inc.). The subcutaneous administration device detailed aboveis referred to below as a staked-in needle prefilled syringe or “SINPFS.”

To demonstrate comparable stability of the lebrikizumab drug product ina vial to the selected SIN PFS, we evaluated GMP drug substancehand-filled into 2 cc vials or 1 mL SIN PFS at 40° C./ambient relativehumidity. We assessed degradation rates as characterized by changes inthe monomer by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) as well as changes inpercent main peak by imaged capillary isoelectric focusing (ICIEF) andcapillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS).

These studies revealed that after storage at 40° C. for 4 weeks, therewere no significant differences in the decrease in monomer as measuredby SEC between vials and SIN PFS (each showing 0.6%-0.9% decrease) or inthe decrease in percent main peak (each showing 18-21% decrease asmeasured by ICIEF and 0.9%-1.5% decrease as measured by CE-SDS). Inaddition, the chromatographic profiles were comparable to each other andno new peaks were observed in the SIN PFS samples compared to the vialsamples.

There were slight differences in degradation rates (0.5%-0.6% increasein high molecular weight species for the vial vs. 0.8% increase in highmolecular weight species for the SIN PFS after 4 weeks at 40° C.). Thisslight difference was considered unlikely to affect product qualityduring real time storage.

Accordingly, we conclude that the data described above show that thestability of high concentration lebrikizumab drug product formulated asdescribed above in vials is comparable to that in the selected SIN PFSdescribed above.

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1. A formulation comprising an anti-IL13 antibody, wherein theconcentration of antibody in the formulation is at least 100 mg/mL andthe viscosity of the formulation is less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25°C.
 2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and threelight chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 6. 3. The formulation ofclaim 2, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain variableregion having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 7. 4. Theformulation of claim 2, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a lightchain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 9.5. The formulation of claim 3, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprisesa heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 10. 6. Theformulation of claim 4, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a lightchain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 7. Theformulation of claim 2, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavychain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7and a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.:
 9. 8. The formulation of claim 7, wherein the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10and a light chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 9.The formulation of claim 1, wherein the concentration of antibody is 125mg/mL.
 10. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the concentration ofantibody is 150 mg/mL.
 11. The formulation of claim 1 comprisinghistidine acetate buffer, ph 5.4 to 6.0, wherein the histidine acetateconcentration in the buffer is between 5 mM and 40 mM.
 12. Theformulation of claim 11, further comprising a polyol and a surfactant,wherein the concentration of the polyol in the formulation is between100 mM and 200 mM and the concentration of the surfactant in theformulation is between 0.01% and 0.1%.
 13. The formulation of claim 12,wherein the polyol is sucrose and the surfactant is polysorbate
 20. 14.The formulation of claim 13, wherein the histidine acetate buffer is pH5.7 and the histidine acetate concentration in the buffer is 20 mM, andwherein the concentration of sucrose in the formulation is 175 mM andthe concentration of polysorbate 20 is 0.03%.
 15. The formulation ofclaim 14, wherein the concentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL.
 16. Theformulation of claim 15, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises threeheavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:1, CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chainCDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 6. 17. The formulation of claim 14,wherein the concentration of antibody is 150 mg/mL.
 18. The formulationof claim 17, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chainCDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 6. 19. A formulation comprising an anti-IL13antibody in a histidine acetate buffer, pH 5.4 to 6.0, wherein thehistidine acetate concentration in the buffer is between 5 mM and 40 mMand wherein the concentration of antibody in the formulation is at least100 mg/mL.
 20. The formulation of claim 19, further comprising a polyoland a surfactant, wherein the concentration of the polyol in theformulation is between 100 mM and 200 mM and the concentration of thesurfactant in the formulation is between 0.01% and 0.1%.
 21. Theformulation of claim 20, wherein the polyol is sucrose and thesurfactant is polysorbate
 20. 22. The formulation of claim 21, whereinthe histidine acetate buffer is pH 5.7 and the histidine acetateconcentration in the buffer is 20 mM, and wherein the concentration ofsucrose in the formulation is 175 mM and the concentration ofpolysorbate 20 is 0.03%.
 23. The formulation of claim 22, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6.24. The formulation of claim 23, wherein the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.:
 7. 25. The formulation of claim 23, wherein the anti-IL13antibody comprises a light chain variable region having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 9. 26. The formulation of claim 24, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 10. 27. The formulation of claim 25, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 28. The formulation of claim 23, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable regionhaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 9. 29. The formulation ofclaim 28, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 and a light chain having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 30. The formulation of claim 23which has a viscosity of less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C.
 31. Theformulation of claim 19, wherein the concentration of antibody is 125mg/mL.
 32. The formulation of claim 19, wherein the concentration ofantibody is 150 mg/mL.
 33. A formulation comprising an antiIL-13antibody having extended stability, wherein the antibody concentrationis at least 100 mg/mL and the viscosity is less than 15 centipoise (cP)at 25° C.
 34. The formulation of claim 33, wherein the antiIL-13antibody is stable for at least one year at 5° C.
 35. The formulation ofclaim 34, wherein the antiIL-13 antibody is stable for at least twoyears at 5° C.
 36. The formulation of claim 35, wherein the anti-IL13antibody is stable for three years at 5° C.
 37. The formulation of claim33, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody is stable for at least four weeks at25° C., or at least 8 weeks at 25° C., or at least 12 weeks at 25° C.,or for 26 weeks at 4° C.
 38. The formulation of claim 33 comprisinghistidine acetate buffer, ph 5.4 to 6.0, wherein the histidine acetateconcentration in the buffer is between 5 mM and 40 mM.
 39. Theformulation of claim 38, further comprising a polyol and a surfactant,wherein the concentration of the polyol in the formulation is between100 mM and 200 mM and the concentration of the surfactant in theformulation is between 0.01% and 0.1%.
 40. The formulation of claim 39,wherein the polyol is sucrose and the surfactant is polysorbate
 20. 41.The formulation of claim 40, wherein the histidine acetate buffer is pH5.7 and the histidine acetate concentration in the buffer is 20 mM, andwherein the concentration of sucrose in the formulation is 175 mM andthe concentration of polysorbate 20 is 0.03%.
 42. The formulation ofclaim 41, wherein the concentration of antibody is 125 mg/mL.
 43. Theformulation of claim 42, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises threeheavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:1, CDR-H2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chainCDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 6. 44. The formulation of claim 41,wherein the concentration of antibody is 150 mg/mL.
 45. The formulationof claim 44, wherein the anti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chainCDRs, CDR-H1 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 6. 46. A formulation comprising an anti-IL13antibody having extended stability in 20 mM histidine acetate buffer, pH5.7, 175 mM sucrose, 0.03% polysorbate 20, wherein the concentration ofantibody in the formulation is 125 mg/mL and the viscosity of theformulation is less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C., and wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6.47. The formulation of claim 46, wherein the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable region having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 9. 48. The formulation of claim 47, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 and a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 49. A formulation comprising an anti-IL13antibody having extended stability in 20 mM histidine acetate buffer, pH5.7, 175 mM sucrose, 0.03% polysorbate 20, wherein the concentration ofantibody in the formulation is 150 mg/mL and the viscosity of theformulation is less than 15 centipoise (cP) at 25° C., and wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises three heavy chain CDRs, CDR-H1 having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, CDR-H2 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 2, and CDR-H3 having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO.: 3, and three light chain CDRs, CDR-L1 having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 4, CDR-L2 having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.: 5, and CDR-L3 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 6.50. The formulation of claim 49, wherein the anti-IL13 antibodycomprises a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO.: 7 and a light chain variable region having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 9. 51. The formulation of claim 50, wherein theanti-IL13 antibody comprises a heavy chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.: 10 and a light chain having the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO.:
 14. 52. An article of manufacture comprising theformulation of any one of claims 1, 19, 33, 46, or 49 and a subcutaneousadministration device.
 53. The article of manufacture of claim 52wherein the subcutaneous administration device comprises a prefilledsyringe.
 54. The article of manufacture of claim 53 wherein theprefilled syringe comprises a glass barrel, a needle, and a needleshield.
 55. The article of manufacture of claim 54 further comprising aplunger rod and a plunger stopper.
 56. The article of manufacture ofclaim 55 further comprising a needle safety device.
 57. The article ofmanufacture of claim 54 wherein the glass barrel comprises borosilicateglass and contains about 0.3 mL, about 1.0 mL, or about 2.0 mL of theformulation.
 58. The article of manufacture of claim 55 wherein theplunger stopper comprises 4023/50 rubber andethylene-tetrafluoroethylene coating.
 59. The article of manufacture ofclaim 54 wherein the needle is staked-in, stainless steel, 27Gthin-wall, ½ inch long, and 5-bevel tip.
 60. The article of manufactureof claim 54 wherein the needle shield is rigid and comprises anelastomeric component, FM27/0, and rigid polypropylene shield.
 61. Amethod of treating asthma in a patient comprising administering to thepatient an effective amount of the formulation of any one of claims 1,19, 33, 46, or
 49. 62. The method of claim 61 wherein the effectiveamount is 0.3 mL, one mL or two mL or about 0.3 mL, about one mL orabout two mL.
 63. A method of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ina patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount ofthe formulation of any one of claims 1, 19, 33, 46, or
 49. 64. Themethod of claim 63 wherein the effective amount is 0.3 mL, one mL or twomL or about 0.3 mL, about one mL or about two mL.
 65. A method ofadministering subcutaneously a formulation comprising an anti-IL13antibody, the method comprising the article of manufacture of claim 52.66. (canceled)